As their 25th wedding anniversary approached, Wendell and Rose Eve were planning a party and vow renewal in their home country of Bermuda.
Just weeks before the big day, Wendell collapsed in the shower. An aortic dissection—a tear in his artery—had cut off blood to part of his body, damaging his kidneys and intestines.
He was airlifted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where surgeons repaired the tear and restored his circulation. His odds for survival were less than 10 percent.
Rose stayed by his side as the hospital’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation worked to rebuild Wendell’s strength. Good health includes nurturing both the spirit and body, so the rehabilitation team mobilized when they heard about the couple’s anniversary.
On May 23, Rose donned an elegant dress and met her husband at the statue of Jesus beneath the hospital’s historic dome. The rehabilitation staff members, surgeons, nurses and friends gathered for a vow renewal ceremony. Wendell stood beside his wife with the help of a walker.
A reception included a three-tiered wedding cake and framed photos of their wedding, 25 years before. The tearful couple expressed their gratitude.
Wendell’s care at Johns Hopkins ensured more anniversaries to come—just weeks later, he was well enough to return home to Bermuda.
This post highlights content from JHI’s FY17-FY18 Impact Report, Realizing the Mission. Read the full report and check out this video to learn more about our transformational work in international collaborative health from the last two fiscal years.
