Hospital nuptials
An injured Navy SEAL gets married in a hospital after a skydiving accident. KPNX's Andy Harvey reports.
Among the stethoscope monitors and medical equipment, Timothy Schlappi gets ready for a very big day - his wedding. A week ago, the 33-year-old Navy SEAL was injured in a skydiving training accident.
"I misjudged my turn coming in to land my parachute and evidently I hit a car."
He was left with a shattered heel, broken legs and neck, but the accident ended up bringing him and his fiancée Lace a lot closer.
"I don't wanna lose him, and I was so glad to have him, and I couldn't wait anymore."
So they decided to move their 2011 wedding date to today.
"Marriage is a union of husband and wife."
The place - Timothy's hospital room at the Maricopa County Medical Center.
"I know I've wanted to marry her for a long time."
"I am so, so happy! I wanted to marry this man for the longest time."
And they did in front of doctors, nurses and new friends.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, and you may now kiss your..."
"We may not have the dream wedding that we wanted, but this could far surpasses anything that I could have ever come up with in my own mind."
"I couldn't ask for anything more than what happened today."