PICTURES: Wedding bells for Dornoch residents after bride's Covid struggle
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A DORNOCH resident who was not expected to survive a brush with coronavirus last year, has married her devoted partner.
Susan Brown (73) was hospitalised last September after falling seriously ill, and spent a month in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, fighting for her life.
Her partner Jeff Walker (69) asked lead clinician Dr Grant Franklin to propose to Susan on his behalf in a bid to give her a “sense of hope”.
The couple have been together for 12 years, first meeting when Susan rented a house from Jeff.
From Stoke-on-Trent, they bought a property in Dornoch after the first lockdown, and have stayed there since.
The proposal by proxy came as a complete surprise to Susan.
“We had discussed it [marriage],” she said. “We have both been divorced and we were afraid, but what happened to me changed Jeff’s mind.
“When Dr Franklin asked me, I had to nod my head because I could not talk.
“All the nurses were taken aback when it happened.
“I’ve always wanted to say thank you to them all and to sing the praises of the health service because it’s been absolutely wonderful.”
Susan is still battling towards a full recovery, challenged by Long Covid and other related symptoms.
Nevertheless, the pair managed to tie the knot over Easter weekend earlier this month.
The service and reception was held at Meikle Ferry Station on the Dornoch Firth.
“We had a wonderful service conducted by Dornoch Cathedral locum minister Rev Carol Anne Porter,” Susan said.
“We are the first couple to get married at Meikle Ferry Station. The owners, Linda and Will Cowie, provided the perfect venue for the service and reception which was attended by a small group from both families who had travelled 450 miles to be with us, and local friends who had been most welcoming and very helpful to us during our darkest times last year.
“I am extremely grateful to Dr Franklin and his team and the doctors and nurses who saved me.”
