Tooting hospital staff enable kidney cancer patient to get hitched after months of treatment and before he moves to hospice

A cancer patient tied the knot on Thursday, on his last day in hospital before being transferred to a hospice for end-of-life care.

Ben Logan, 41, married Hanna Assouline, 32, in a moving ceremony at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

After caring for Ben for four weeks, the staff on the Gordon-Smith Ward were determined to pull out all the stops to give the happy couple their special day.

Ben had been diagnosed just a year ago with renal cell cancer, where malignant cells form in the kidney.

He met Hanna a few months before, in August 2020 on a popular dating app. After their first date, they met every day for a week and couldn’t wait to introduce each other to their friends and family.

Hanna was thrilled to have met someone who loved life as much as she did, and even her puppy Chanel approved of morning snuggles in bed with Ben on Sundays.

When it came to their wedding, Hanna wore a stunning white dress and veil, and her King Charles Spaniel puppies were bridesmaids and were also dressed for the occasion.

In Hanna’s vow’s she shared: “It took me 10 years to find you, and I’d give those 10 years away in an instant to spend another second with you.”

Ben shared in his: “You’re a woman who has proved she can stand by me through the good times and the bad times, and I’m not done with the good times just yet.

“I love you and feel blessed you’re my partner in this journey.”

St George’s Physician Associate for Oncology, Georgia Bickerton, said: “Ben has shown strength and determination throughout his battle with cancer, despite everything he has always had the best sense of humour and is always smiling.

“Staff on the ward here were keen to do everything they could to arrange the wedding ceremony for him and his fiancé and Hanna.

“Staff on Gordon Smith ward were incredibly touched by the ceremony and felt very grateful to be with the couple on their special day.”