They originally planned to marry on April 30, but had a baby on April 21 and decided to tie the knot on Wednesday at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.
NEW LONDON, Conn. – It’s not uncommon for people to get married on a weekday, but it’s not uncommon to hear that the wedding takes place inside a neonatal intensive care unit.
Grier Stanley and Jason Barnwell were supposed to get married on April 30, but “Drue had other plans,” Jason Barnwell said Wednesday.
Drue Barnwell is the couple’s daughter, who was born April 21 at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London just 28 weeks into Grier’s pregnancy.
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“He was 2.61 pounds at birth and now he’s a little over 8 pounds,” Grier Stanley Barnwell said.
“He’s doing great now, but it’s been a three-month experience for this family with a lot of ups and downs,” said Dr. James Pellegrini of Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.
Today was one such success, as Jason and Grier tied the knot in the presence of perhaps the world’s youngest bridesmaid, who still calls the L&M NICU home.
“We can’t have family, but you know the NICU crew is our family and so is dad Tony, so why not and we can leave as a Barnwell family,” said the new mom.
Not only were their families not allowed to be a part of the NICU nuptials, the couple, who met over a year ago on a dating website, didn’t actually tell their families that they were they would get married today
“We’ll send a message right after that,” Grier said with a laugh.
His priest. Fr. Anthony DiNoto of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Niantic said today’s marriage ceremony will be one of the most memorable events of his career.
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“I’ve distributed ashes on Ash Wednesday at Foxwoods Casino,” DiNoto said. “I was present at the service at the John F. Kennedy Memorial when I was in Greenwich. I baptized an emergency doctor, who treated me and today is just a moment of incredible grace for all of us.”
Baby Drue’s grateful father poured out his heart to the L&M staff.
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“Without you guys, you know, she wouldn’t be here,” said an emotional Jason Barnwell. “So thanks, I appreciate it.”
Grier Barnwell said if all goes well, the Drue crew will walk out of the hospital together for the first time as a family of three, perhaps as soon as Friday.
Tony Terzi is a reporter for FOX61 News. He can be reached at tterzi@fox61.com. follow him Facebook, Twitter i Instagram.
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