A hospital wedding with lots of heart

JTrell Booth has loved his new wife, Kayla, with two hearts. The one he was born with and the one he received at Nebraska Medical Center in 2021.

It wasn't what they originally planned, but the popular patient and his bride exchanged vows Saturday evening, July 8, in his Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit room.

Carrying a bouquet of pink and burgundy roses, the bride linked arms with her father and walked down the unit hallway before turning the corner to enter JTrell's room. He immediately burst into tears when he caught a glimpse of Kayla in her dress. So did most of the small crowd of a little more than 20 people, including the couple's families, along with the nursing team and transplant coordinators.

"Once I saw my bride, it was the best thing ever," JTrell said. "I'm so thankful to Nebraska Medicine, UNMC and their teams and everyone else for making it happen."

"There are no words," said?Nicole Durham, transplant coordinator. "To watch him and to be part of this family for so long – it's like he's our family as well. Having them embrace us and let us be here today is something I'll never forget."

JTrell proposed to Kayla in the hospital after receiving his heart a little more than two years ago. They had to keep their wedding plans flexible. After his most recent admission, it made sense to have the wedding at the med center, and the whole thing came together in a matter of days.?

Nurses hung balloons and brought gifts. Local businesses donated the two-tier chocolate cake and wedding decorations. Garlands of flowers and flowing pink drapery transformed the room.?

The couple read vows each had written, sharing the story of their love. JTrell got plenty of laughs when he told the story of meeting Kayla on a dating app, convinced she was too good to be true and he was being catfished.

"Today, I choose you to be my wife. I love you," he concluded.?

The crowd burst into applause and cheers as the officiant, Kayla's father, Jason Workman, pronounced the couple husband and wife.

The special day became even more special with a special guest appearance from the mother of JTrell's heart donor, Josh Paxman.

"I wanted to be here because JTrell is my heart son," explained Liz Paxman, who flew in from Provo, Utah.?

She explained how close she's become to JTrell.

"From the time we received his first letter, we felt that our prayers had been answered and that Josh's heart went to the right person," Paxman said. "I will tell anyone out there if they are ever wondering if they should donate their loved one's organs – it is so wonderful and so worth it. Because part of your loved one lives on."

JTrell lives with a positivity that's impacted all the colleagues who have cared for him through his transplant journey. That bright attitude was on full display as he took everything in.

"I want to share with the world that no matter what predicament you're in, you can always overcome it with just a little smile,"?

Smiles and tears, and a wedding with so much heart.?