Brush with death sparks impromptu wedding at Montreal hospital

CTV National News: Heartwarming story of love After a heart failure left Gerry Champagne on the brink of death he decided to marry his longtime girlfriend. Genevieve Beauchemin reports.

A Quebec man married his longtime girlfriend in a hospital waiting room over the weekend, after a near-death experience made him realize he was finally ready to propose.

Gerry Champagne, 58, suffered heart failure five weeks ago. He was saved with a temporary mechanical heart, but remains weak and will need a transplant.

Throughout the surgeries and complications, longtime girlfriend Michelle Cormier has stuck by his side.

“You find a woman like that (who) supports you and (who’s) there for you,” Champagne says, “basically that’s what love is.”

On Saturday, Cormier walked down the aisle at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The couple exchanged rings and vowed to stay together through sickness and in health.

Champagne was too weak to stand throughout the entire ceremony, but he did laugh and kiss his bride.

Cormier said she didn’t realize how much she loved Champagne until she thought she was going to lose him. “I will cherish this,” she said.

With a report from CTV Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin