Mega Doctor News
On April 10, 2001, Craig Ellis and Maria Christina “Christy” GarciaEllis stood before a judge and their exchanged vows in a civil ceremony due to Christy’s previous marriage.
“I didn’t want to just be living together without a real commitment,” says Christy, 54. “We dreamed of being married in the church, but I was still working through the annulment from my previous marriage. I never imagined how long that journey would take, or how many obstacles we would face along the way.”
In early 2026, Craig and Christy learned their annulment had been approved by the Catholic Church three years earlier. To validly celebrate their civilly contracted marriage within the Catholic Church and enter into a sacramental union, a process known as convalidation, Craig and Christy planned to wed before a priest on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
See the gallery below for images of the wedding: All images are courtesy od STHS:
However, on Wednesday, April 1, while undergoing dialysis, Craig suffered an acute ischemic stroke. Christy rushed her 62 year old husband to South Texas Health System (STHS) McAllen’s Comprehensive Stroke Center for treatment.
While hospitalized, Craig suffered a second stroke less than a week later, on Monday, April 6, placing their pending nuptials in limbo.
“No one could promise he wouldn’t have another stroke or that we wouldn’t lose him,” says Christy. “We had waited so long to be married in the church, trying to be true to our faith. I told our priest we couldn’t wait another day. I didn’t care where it happened or what I was wearing, I just needed to be married, in the eyes of God, to the man I love.”
With their convalidation a priority, Christy reached out to Father Roy Snipes of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission to explore the possibility of getting married at STHS McAllen. Father Roy’s team contacted STHS McAllen leadership to see if Craig and Christy’s wedding could take place at the facility.
On Thursday, April 16, six days after marking their 25th wedding anniversary, Craig and Christy said “I do” in his hospital room, surrounded by loved ones, hospital staff and onlookers.
While Craig’s medical condition altered their original plans, STHS McAllen staff worked tirelessly to transform the room into a heartfelt setting for the couple’s longawaited union.
In addition to transforming the room with wedding décor and providing a special wedding cake, STHS staff purchased a bouquet for Christy and arranged for a hair and makeup artist to help prepare the longtime McAllen ISD teacher for her nuptials.
“Even though the wedding took place in a hospital room, it was incredibly special,” says Christy. “Surrounded by family and all the love and support we were shown, it’s a moment I will treasure forever. Being married in the eyes of God means everything to me, and I’m so grateful to STHS McAllen for making it possible. It was all so unexpected, and I truly can’t thank them enough.”
Following the ceremony, Craig and Christy celebrated with cake alongside their family, strengthened by the peace of knowing they could now face Craig’s health challenges married in the eyes of their faith.
