A deeply heartfelt celebration took place on Tuesday 19 May at Rowcroft Hospice, as Keiandra Foote and Jeff Coombs were married surrounded by close family, friends and the hospice team who helped make the day possible.
Keiandra is currently receiving specialist care in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit, and the couple chose to hold their wedding there, in a place where they have been supported with such compassion and dignity.
The Dawlish-based couple, who have been together for 24 years and have three daughters, exchanged vows in the Inpatient Unit’s Front Lounge, before moving with their guests into Rowcroft’s Sanctuary. With thoughtful planning and support from hospice staff, the space was decorated to create a warm and welcoming setting for their special celebration.
Reflecting on their life together, Jeff shared:
“It seems like a lifetime ago that we first met. I was good friends with Keiandra’s siblings when we met on a night out, and it went from there. Here we are, 24 amazing years later.
“We always wanted to get married, probably for the last ten years. Keiandra didn’t want a traditional wedding. She told me, if I was going to marry her, it had to be in Vegas or nothing. Our priority has always been elsewhere – spending money on family holidays and travelling with our kids. It wasn’t until we came to the hospice that we decided we really do want to be married.”
The couple chose to keep the ceremony intimate, inviting around 30 of their closest family and friends to share the day with them. The wedding was coordinated with the help of Rowcroft’s Social Worker Nicky Monks, who described the planning as a shared effort across the hospice to create something truly special: “Everyone deserves their fairytale wedding, whatever that looks like for them. This wasn’t quite the Vegas setting Keiandra had in mind, but we could still make it beautiful and meaningful.
“I’m always happy to be the unofficial wedding coordinator here! Everyone really pulls together to make these moments so special.”
Speaking about the support the couple received from the hospice, Jeff said:
“The Rowcroft team have been incredible. Being able to hold the wedding here at the hospice has meant so much to us. We didn’t realise at first that this would be possible.
“It means the world to us to be married, and we honestly can’t thank everyone at the hospice enough.”
The ceremony was a touching reflection of what hospice care is all about – creating space for love, connection, and meaningful moments with the people who matter most.
To find out more about Rowcroft’s work, go to rowcrofthospice.org.uk
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