The bride’s ‘something blue’ was her hospital customer wristband.
J.J, her small 11-week-old boy, who was sleeping soundly on the mattress at the Prepare Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
On Tuesday mid-day, Kristi Warriner married her fiance Justin Nelson – truly emotional ceremony, at the Fort Worth hospital with their premature boy J.J., on their side, putting on a tuxedo onesie, almost stole the show as his parents’ ring bearer. Carissa Warriner, his 8-year old sister served as the couple’s flower girl at the NICU’s first-ever wedding.
Kristi Nelson, new bride said, “It’s not what you dream of as a young girl. It’s far better. I couldn’t have requested for a more ideal wedding.”
J.J., who was born 15 days in the early stages on 2nd Septemeber, weighing under 2 pounds at birth. For some time it had been “touch and go.” However, he is still struggling with chronic lung disease and requires assistance breathing, J.J., now weighs in at 6 pounds, 8 oz . and seems to be improving every single day. “We are hopeful that our boy is going to be good enough to be released within the coming days, Midlothian couple said.
“We’re praying that we are able to have our gift get home by Christmas time,” Kristi Nelson stated.
Although the entire day was full of smiles and happy tears, the Nelson family still grieves. Colt Austin Nelson, J.J.’s identical twin brother, was stillborn. During the wedding ceremony, the family honored him in prayer by putting a specifically made Dallas Cowboys teddy bear alongside his brother.
Kristi Nelson stated while discussing her big day with local media, “We are thankful to God that every single day J.J is improving and getting stronger. Our greatest mission with all this was to help others know they aren’t alone. I hope we’ve touched somebody’s life and inform them that there’s hope after tragedy.”
Actually the couple wished to get married, but were busy taking care of their preemie boy. So, Cook Children’s staff assisted arrange the ceremony. Local companies contributed the bride’s wedding dress and flowers. There was even “something borrowed” in the wedding. Certainly one of the family’s buddies given the outfit for that small ring bearer to put on.
After swapping their vows, the mother and father smiled down in their sleeping newborn and touched his small hands in comfort.
Kristi Nelson stated, “He’s just a little fighter. I’m feeling so proud today. He did outstanding.”