A man stricken with ALS married his longtime girlfriend Friday in a special ceremony that was held at the San Diego-area nursing home where he is a patient.
The staff at the Villa Pomerado facility in Poway decided to put on the wedding for Jose Sanchez after learning he wanted to marry Blanca Sanchez, his girlfriend of 23 years and the mother of his two children, according to CNN affiliate KGTV.
Joe Sanchez was diagnosed three years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He can barely move the fingers on his hands and also has difficulty speaking because of the neurological disease, according to the station.
He struggles with his words when telling the station that he loves Blanca.
After all their time together, the couple decided that they wanted to marry in a simple bedside ceremony in his room. Instead, the nursing facility decided to plan an entire wedding.
Villa Pomerado Director Joel Alberto told KGTV that some member of the staff had suggested catering the ceremony and dressing up a room for the occasion.
On Friday, the couple exchanged rings and vows at the facility’s break room surrounded by their children, a dozen family members and Villa Pomerado employees, according to the station.
The celebration even featured a wedding cake.
“She’s still with me. She’s still here. She’s taking care of me,” Sanchez said in a quiet voice prior to the ceremony, the television station reported.
His new wife remained steadfast in her support of her him.
“It is tough, but it’s not impossible,” she said of the disease, which currently does not have a cure.
ALS made headlines around the country last year when millions took the “ice bucket challenge” to raise awareness for research.
More than $100 million was donated for the cause.
CNN contributed to this story.
