A8

Judy Bowman - My Miramichi

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Often, with the work involved in planning a wedding, the focus gets narrowed down to what the bride and groom want for their wedding. While others maybe considered it is usually all about the couple, the when, the where and the theme colours of the wedding.

Enlarge Photo

Paula Donovan (charge nurse) Shana Morrison, James Matchett, Brenda Williams (charge nurse) and sitting, Sybil MacNaughton Parker enjoy time together after Shana and James presented a donation to the Alzheimer Unit.

How rare and refreshing it is to hear about a wedding when the wellbeing and welfare of others is taken into consideration and becomes part of the plans.

Shana Morrison, fiancée to James Matchett, decided that she was not going to put her friends and family through hours of gluing and making party favours that would either be left on the tables or tossed in the trash right after the wedding. The focus became what she and James could do instead.

"After I talked it over with my future mother-in-law, Lilla, we decided to give a donation instead and my mother came up with the Alzheimer Unit," says Shana, "And I said ‘perfect.'"

So, on the day prior to their wedding, they made plans to visit the Alzheimer Unit of Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home, and make a generous donation to the unit on behalf of her grandmother Sybil (MacNaughton) Parker, now a resident of that unit.

"At the reception," says Shana. "I am going to announce that Nanny couldn't be here with us, but instead of party favours we decided to give a generous donation to the Alzheimer Unit."

Clearly, Mrs. Parker was delighted to see her granddaughter and be part of the presentation.

"Nanny moved here in January. Up until then our family looked after her day and night. None of them missed a night shift in two and a half years. When it became clear we couldn't do it anymore, she was admitted here when a bed became available. She's settled in very well and seems happy."

Shana, who owns her own business, Shana's Esthetics, on Percy Kelly Drive, continues to do her grandmother's manicures and pedicures. "Nanny loves it and it doesn't bother her at all."

James Matchett was on board with this idea. "I just think that making a donation like this could make a difference to other people.

Charge nurses Brenda Williams and Paula Donovan were on hand for the presentation.

Says Donovan, "I think it is just wonderful that a young couple is doing something like this."

While Sybil MacNaughton Parker will not be present at the wedding ceremony on Oct. 4, she will certainly be there in spirit and proud of the generous spirit of this young couple.

Congratulations Shana and James!