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At BayCare, high-quality, compassionate care is at the center of everything we do. For 89-year-old Anthony Fabrizio, that compassion took the shape of something extraordinary — the chance to marry the love of his life during his hospital stay.
Fabrizio, who was a patient in Mease Countryside Hospital’s cardiac unit, often shared stories about his life with his care team. He spoke fondly of growing up in a close-knit Italian family, his years working in construction and building his own homes, and his lifelong passion for motorcycles.
But above all, one subject always made him light up — Nancy Woodard, the woman he had loved since childhood.
“Anthony told me he and Nancy had known each other since they were 12,” said BayCare nurse Alana Mahoney. “After his wife passed away, he and Nancy reconnected and fell in love again. Their bond was something truly special.”
As Fabrizio’s health declined, he shared with the team his final wish: to marry Woodard before the end of his life.
“When I first met Anthony, he told me he felt like he was dying,” said Chaplain Alex Limberatos, who spent time with him during his hospital stay. “He seemed at peace with his mortality, but when he decided to marry Nancy, you could see how much comfort and meaning it brought him.”
Determined to make his wish come true, the team quickly came together. Although Woodard faced some challenges obtaining a marriage certificate from the courthouse, the team was grateful to learn that a pastor from Fabrizio’s church agreed to bless their union. Mahoney and her colleagues transformed his hospital room into a celebration space, complete with garland, candles, balloons, rose petals and a handmade banner reading ‘Congratulations Tony & Nancy.’
Music from the couple’s younger days filled the room as Woodard arrived with a bouquet in one hand and took Fabrizio’s hand in the other. BayCare team members from across the hospital gathered in the hallway to witness the blessing.
“There was a nurse beside me who said, ‘I hope this gives him peace,’” Limberatos said. “And I believe it did.”
The following day, the team printed photos from the ceremony and gave them to Fabrizio as keepsakes — a reminder of a moment filled with love, dignity and joy.
Fabrizio’s care team, including the palliative care specialists at BayCare, worked closely with him and his son to align his medical goals and transition to hospice. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses by managing symptoms, easing pain, and providing emotional and spiritual support for both patients and their families. Unlike hospice care, which is for those nearing the end of life, palliative care can begin at any stage of a serious illness and often works alongside curative treatments.
Before being discharged from the hospital to hospice care, Fabrizio reflected on what the day meant to him.
“Love is always beautiful, but it’s even more special when you’re old,” he said. “It’s a different kind of love.”
Moments like these remind the Mease Countryside Hospital team that healing extends beyond medicine — it’s also about compassion and honoring what matters most to patients and their families.
“This story highlights a truly special moment made possible through the dedication and heart of our team,” said Michele Kramer, interim nurse manager. “Alana and Alex went above and beyond to ensure Anthony’s wish came to life. It’s a beautiful example of what compassionate care looks like.”
Though Fabrizio has since passed away in hospice care, the memory of his wedding and the joy it brought continue to touch everyone who witnessed it. For his care team, it remains a powerful reminder that compassion, dignity and love are essential parts of healing at BayCare.
Learn more: Inpatient Palliative Care at BayCare
