Hospital Staff Plans Romantic Bedside Anniversary Dinner for Patient and Her Husband

Staff at a Florida hospital gave a patient — who also happens to be their co-worker — a heartfelt surprise during her stay.

Angela, a nurse at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital, was admitted with severe abdominal pain and later underwent surgery, according to a press release from HCA Florida Healthcare. The health scare came at the worst possible time: she and her husband, Christopher, were about to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

“I was heartbroken, thinking I’d miss celebrating our special day,” Angela said.

Two members of the medical-surgical unit, AnnieBelle and Irmina, quickly stepped in to make sure that didn’t happen.

“They said, ‘We can take care of that,’ ” Angela recalled.

Soon after, Angela and Christopher were surprised with an anniversary dinner right in her hospital room. A small table was arranged beside her bed, complete with candles, flowers, and formal plates and glassware. The couple enjoyed steak and shrimp together — turning a difficult week into a moment they could still celebrate.

“It was delicious,” Angela said. “They came in and told me to cover my head and not peek… then they had it all set up. It was so nice.”

Christopher said it was the first time he’d seen Angela smile all week as she navigated the unexpected hospital stay.

Now recovering at home and “feeling great,” Angela said the gesture reflects the hospital’s caring culture and the way staff treat every patient.

“They’d do this for any of our patients. It’s really at the heart of our mission: making everyone feel valued and cared for,” she said.