Sick father surprises daughter night before wedding

INDIO, California (WISH) – It was a wedding surprise no one will soon forget.

Sixty-one-year-old Andre Pearson is a heart failure patient and has been at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota since March. He was initially told he was too ill to leave the hospital to go to his daughter’s wedding in California.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Pearson had already planned to watch the ceremony online, but a few days before the wedding, he was doing well. So, his care team began brainstorming and decided it would be possible for him to make the trip.

With a hospital staff member accompanying him, Pearson surprised his daughter, Alexandra, the night before the wedding in Indio, California and promised to walk her down the aisle.

When Pearson arrived at the Mayo Clinic in March, hospital officials said it looked like he might have only a year to live. They said he was too ill to qualify for a heart transplant, and his kidneys were failing. After surgery, ongoing dialysis and physical rehabilitation, officials say Pearson is now well enough that he will likely return home within the next month.

After that, the Mayo Clinic says will be evaluated for a possible heart transplant. His kidneys are recovering as well, so he may not need dialysis long-term, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The hospital posted the emotional video of Andre and Alexandra’s reunion online, along with a photo of their family on the wedding day, and Alexandra’s walk down the isle. You can watch that video here: