This couple from Isabella proved that they got each other’s back in sickness and in health.
Couple Richmond Ariola and Levy Jaedicke Felix tied the knot in Isabella on July 18, 2022. The bride was diagnosed with dengue before their wedding day.
“A day or two before the wedding, nagkaro’n kami ng small gathering with our friends. And then after that, umuwi kami, pumunta kami saglit ng clinic para magpahinga and then she told me that she’s not feeling well,” Richmond recalled.
Richmond thought that it was just a simple flu but to their surprise, Levy was experiencing several symptoms of dengue.
“Nag-message siya sa’kin nang gabi then she told me na ni-rush siya sa hospital. Sa emergency. That was already Sunday. So a day before the wedding. Nag-positive siya sa Dengue. Malungkot na masaya kasi sa Dengue siya positive instead of a COVID.” he added.
Levy admitted that she felt disappointed on her health emergency few moments before their big day as a couple.
“Nangingibabaw talaga ’yung disappointment no’ng time na ’yon, Kasi siyempre gusto ko talaga na perfect ‘yung wedding.Sabi ko pa, baka pangit ’yung weather, baka hindi ma-execute ’yung gusto kong mangyari. ’Yon talaga ’yung wino-worry ko. Pero never na nasa isip ko na magkakasakit ako a day before the wedding,” Levy told The Philippine STAR.
Despite this, the wedding ceremony pushed through, thanks to their coordinators and suppliers.
“Kinabahan ako kasi Dengue ‘yan eh. So ‘diba? Alam naman natin na hindi gano’n kadaling sakit. Hindi mo puwedeng ipakita sa couple mo na kinakabahan ka. Na natatakot ka. So you have to be strong. Bilang planner, dapat alam mo agad kung ano ‘yung troubleshoots,” wedding coordinator Angeline Alivia-Rivera shared.
“Ang goal na lang talaga namin is ikasal sila. Bilang coordinator or planner, you have to adapt sa situation,” she added.
Levy said that postponing the wedding was not an option during that time. “Hindi ko na talaga naisip i-postpone kasi siyempre settled na lahat.”
For Richmond’s part, he let his future wife decide on the matter.
“Naka-base lang naman ako sa magiging decision niya at that time. Kung ako lang tatanungin that time eh gusto ko din naman na ituloy. Kaso siyempre hindi naman ako ‘yung nahihirapan. So dependent pa rin ako sa kanya kung anong magiging decision niya. So ‘yun nga buti na lang sabi niya, kaya niya. We just have to have something in mind in case may mangyaring hindi maganda o hindi inaasahan,” he recalled.
The wedding coordinators made sure that medical equipment and doctors were on standby in case Levy’s condition became worse
Angeline and the whole team were focused on Levy’s condition during the photoshoot and the wedding ceremony.
“Siguro medyo nahirapan lang kami do’n sa bagay na naka-dextrose si doc. So, medyo limited nga ‘yung galaw niya. Naaawa talaga kasi ako. Lalo na ‘pag bibihisan na siya. Kulang na lang yakapin ko siya kasi hindi ko alam anong saan niya isusuot ‘yung kamay niya,” Angeline said.
Thankfully, the ceremony went well and the couple enjoyed their wedding day. “Na-enjoy namin ‘yung wedding hanggang matapos.”
“Early stage palang ng married life is sinubok na agad. It’s something that we can treasure. At the end of the day, we feel both blessed. kasi hindi man gano’n ‘yung inaasahan namin, pero It’s the perfect wedding for that kind of situation,” Richmond said.
“Na-realize ko lang na it doesn’t matter kung when, how, where tayo ano, kinasal. or gano’n. But What matters is nando’n ka tapos nando’n din ako,” Levy echoed.
