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Four years ago, 33-year-old Raul Hinojosa was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Doctors also discovered that Hinojosa had a fungal infection in his throat and lungs.
When Hinojosa learned the news, his first response was to tell his fiancée of five years (at the time) – life partner for seven – Yvonne Lamas.
Lamas, 34, and Hinojosa had known each other since childhood, but only got together after Lamas’ previous relationship ended. The couple has since has a son together, who they are raising together with Lamas’ daughters from her former relationship.
“He’s very sweet, very generous,” Lamas said. “He loves my girls. He always wants to help people no matter the situation.”
Back in 2007, Hinojosa proposed to Lamas, but promised that they wouldn’t plan the wedding until he had saved up enough money to give her the perfect fairy-tale wedding for the “perfect woman.”
Lamas protested, but Hinojosa insisted.
Unfortunately, Hinojosa wasn’t able to save enough money for this goal. He worked in maintenance and repair for an apartment complex, and once he was diagnosed, the fairy tale wedding quickly became a pipe dream.
In recent years, Hinojosa’s health quickly declined. On October 22, Hinojosa was admitted to Baptist St. Anthony’s critical care unit, and doctors knew he didn’t have much time left. They asked if there was one final wish that he wanted granted.
He said, “I want to marry her. I want her to be mine.”
The nurse who heard Hinojosa’s request immediately put plans into motion. She didn’t want these words to fall flat.
A hospital chaplain drove to the county courthouse for a marriage application and even spoke to the judge to waive the usual 72-hour waiting period of approval. Cooks at the hospital cafeteria began to bake a wedding cake, and volunteers at the gift shop made flower arrangements and bouquets for the ceremony.
One of Lamas’ family members brought a white dress for her to wear and a hospital employee loaned Hinojosa the suit off his back for the ceremony.
Everyone in the ward gathered at Hinojosa’s room for the ceremony, and miraculously, the for the full 20 minutes, no other patient in the ward needed any assistance.
And so finally, after nine long years of being engaged, Raul Hinojosa and Yvonne Lamas finally got married.
Just 36 hours later, Hinojosa passed away.
Our hearts go out to his and Lamas’ families during this time.
You can watch their touching ceremony here:
