Patricia Hermann and Edward Dobbins get married in the ICU at MountainView Hospital on Jan. 25, 2022. Edward Dobbins died two days later of covid. (Courtesy of MountainView)
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Eddie Dobbins proposed marriage over text message, from a Las Vegas intensive care unit where he was being treated for COVID-19.
“Can you check and see if there is a way for us to get married long distance,” Dobbins, 74, tapped into his cellphone from his room at MountainView Hospital. “Love you baby.”
Patricia Hartmann, 75, accepted in all caps: “YES”
On Jan. 24, Dobbins popped the question.
On Jan. 25, Hartmann entered room 202 of the MountainView ICU as his sweetheart and left as his wife.
Dobbins came to MountainView with a combination of COVID, bacterial pneumonia and cancer. Because of his COVID status, Hartmann had been unable to visit him. Hospital staff made exceptions for the nuptials.
Administration signed off on an in-person visit, and his care team became wedding planners.
Nurses draped artificial flowers over room fixtures and made a matching bouquet for the bride. They propped up a cellphone on a crash cart to play wedding music. Dr. Jacqueline King, MountainView’s chief of medicine for critical care, combed Dobbins’ hair and signed the couple’s paperwork as their official witness.
“This is proof that love prevails, and that people are stronger together and that there are joyful moments amidst the challenges,” said MountainView CEO Julie Taylor. “It was our pleasure to celebrate with them and share in their joy.”
Their love started decades ago. Dobbins and Hartmann were married briefly in the 1970s but divorced after a year.
“We were young and stupid,” she said.
But the two kept in touch, even as they went on with their lives and had families. About five years ago, Hartmann, a retired nurse, sent Dobbins a birthday message: “Happy birthday to my favorite ex-husband.”
Their relationship renewed.
Dobbins, who was living in California, met up with Hartmann in Las Vegas on his way home from visiting his son on the East Coast. They went out to dinner. Not long after, Dobbins sold his house and bought a new one here with Hartmann.
They enjoyed their second act together but didn’t consider getting remarried, she said. Then Dobbins became seriously ill.
Outside his room, Hartmann donned a surgical gown, N95 mask and face shield. She clutched her bouquet in gloved hands and walked down the aisle between the nurses’ station and the room door. A similarly attired officiant stood outside the room.
“We are gathered here today to join Eddie and Patty in matrimony,” the officiant said through the glass. “We are joined together in front of friends and God.”
One of the caretakers cracked the door open so he could better hear the most important part.
“Eddie, do you take Patty to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
He was on a non-invasive ventilator, but though his speech had been muffled by the oxygen mask, his “yes, I do” came through clear.
On Jan. 27, Edward Dobbins died.
“He is at peace now and he isn’t suffering anymore,” Hartmann said after he passed. “As a former nurse, I understand not being able to breathe is one of the worst things.
“He is with our Heavenly Father and has no more distress.”
