A bride who was “completely heartbroken” when her dad was admitted to hospital with heart problems just two days before her wedding decided to spend part of her big day on his ward.

Sinèad Jackson was set to marry her partner of 19 years Stephen on 10 October at the Village Hotel in Hyde, Greater Manchester when her dad, Leslie Healy, was admitted to Tameside General Hospital.

The 36-year-old, from Dukinfield, said she had always dreamed of having her father walking her down the aisle.

“I was completely heartbroken when I found out my dad couldn’t attend my wedding,” Sinèad said.

“All I wanted was to see him before I walked down the aisle. So I came to him in hospital.

“I’d do it all over again if I could.”

After arriving at the hospital an hour before her ceremony, Sinèad was able to show her dress to Leslie and be with him to share their father-daughter dance.

Footage of the tender moment shows Sinèad in her dress and Leslie in his wedding suit slow dancing to This Dance, by Scott Thomas Laughridge.

“I just fought back my tears for my Dad because I thought I can’t cry,” she said. “He kept saying sorry to me.”

Sinèad said she met her now-husband Stephen at college when they were both 17.

The couple have been engaged since 2015 – and after finally deciding to tie the knot earlier this year, Sinèad said they could not wait for their big day to arrive.

Sinèad said she “couldn’t believe it” when Leslie was taken to hospital on 8 October.

“My mum rang me [and] told me my Fad was really not well,” Sinèad recalled.

“She said he was in hospital and I was crying, she was crying.

“I felt really upset.”

After visiting her dad the following day, Sinèad said she knew he was not going to be able to leave his ward.

“The nurse explained to me how bad he was and said he shouldn’t be allowed out – even for an hour – because it was such a high risk,” Sinèad said.

“It was very sad.

“I could see it in him as well – and he was a bit like breathless, which is unusual.”

Leslie told his daughter to continue on with the day despite him not being able to attend.

“But Dad being Dad – he’s just stubborn,” said his daughter.

“He told me not to postpone it.

“He kept telling me not to worry and to just get on with the day.

“He said he would see the pictures and videos.”

Sinèad said she knew she had to bring her big day to her dad as much as possible.

And so, after a quick chat with the nurses, she organised to visit the next day – just before the ceremony – along with her mum and wedding photographer Jen.

“I’ve got four brothers and I’m the only daughter,” she said. “So it was a big deal for him to see me.”

Sinèad arrived at the hospital at 15:00 GMT, only one hour before her ceremony.

“I didn’t even look in a mirror at myself, walked straight out of the hotel with one thing on my mind – my Dad,” she said.

“I stood outside the ward as he got dressed, and then my mum ushered us in, and then obviously I just walked down to him.

“I know it wasn’t the ideal place, but it was really nice to to see him and see his reaction.”

Sinèad said the hospital staff helped to make the day even better.

“It was nice – I had two or three of them going ‘Oh my gosh, can I take a picture of you?’

“And all of a sudden we’re taking pictures and videos as we went into the ward.

“I think some of the patients got some pictures as well.

“I definitely got a few extra looks.

“But I just concentrated on Dad.”

Sinèad said her big day went smoothly from there on in, despite being “a bit late” to the ceremony.

“I felt really happy we finally did it,” Sinèad said of her wedding, and that she “was able to relax after seeing my Dad.”

She added: “My little man, Maxie, gave me away on behalf of his Grandad.

“All my brothers were there for me and everyone who needed to be there for me were there.”

Leslie has since been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home.

“He is so pleased with the photos,” Sinèad said.

“Sometimes looking at them now makes me feel sad.

“But I am so grateful we got them in the circumstances.”

Leslie added: “It was a very emotional day for us all.

“Happiness for my daughter Sinèad, as well as sadness at not being able to attend.

“We’re all really grateful for the [hospital staff’s] kind efforts in arranging this visit which allowed us to all celebrate together.”

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