We had the privilege of making one of our patient’s wishes come true.
Natalie Noble (née Dwyer), 40, is currently receiving palliative care at Butterwick Hospice. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at just two months old, Natalie has spent much of the past year in and out of hospital.
After arriving at the hospice last weekend, Specialist Palliative Care Nurse Christina asked Natalie a simple but important question: Was there anything she truly wanted?
Her answer was immediate.
She wanted to marry the love of her life, Matthew, her partner of 23 years.
Within hours, the Butterwick Hospice team began working together to make that wish a reality.
Just 24 hours later, Natalie and Matthew were married in a beautiful ceremony held in the chapel at Butterwick Hospice in Stockton.
Surrounded by more than 20 family members and close friends, including Natalie’s mam Bev, dad Andy, brother Rob, sister-in-law Jenna, nephew Alfie and niece Eadie, the couple celebrated a day full of love, laughter and unforgettable memories.
Even Natalie’s beloved dogs, Teddy and Harley, were part of the celebrations, dressed for the occasion in matching bow ties.
Reflecting on the morning of the wedding, Jenna recalled Natalie saying:
“If anything happens to me tonight, I’ll be the happiest girl in the world.”
Making a wedding happen in just one day required an incredible team effort.
The hospice’s catering team prepared a wedding cake and refreshments, while clinical staff coordinated everything from the ceremony and music to outfits and the registrar. Colleagues across Butterwick Hospice and Teesside Hospice operations worked together to ensure every detail was taken care of.
Butterwick Hospice Clinical Manager Stacey Hadlet said:
“It was an absolute privilege to be part of something so special. When Natalie shared her wish, everyone immediately came together with determination and compassion to make it happen.
Seeing Natalie and Matthew marry, surrounded by love, was incredibly moving for all of us. It perfectly reflects what hospice care is about – helping people create meaningful moments and memories when they matter most.”
The wider community also rallied around the couple, with local businesses generously donating their time, skills and services at very short notice.
Butterwick Hospice would like to thank:
Dwyer and Noble families – wedding support
Elizabeth George, Middlesbrough – wedding dress and tiara
Review, Stockton – ties
Fairfield Florist, Stockton – bridal bouquet, floral displays, cherry blossom tree and buttonholes
Gemma Connell – wedding and event dressing
Eddy Maynard – photography and videography
Their kindness helped transform the hospice into a beautiful wedding venue and ensured the day was one Natalie and Matthew would never forget.
One of the most emotional moments came as Natalie’s dad walked her from her room to the chapel while I Loved Her First by Heartland played.
Natalie’s family said the day exceeded every expectation.
“Natalie has been smiling ear to ear with her beautiful, infectious smile. We can’t speak highly enough of everyone involved. They made it all about Natalie and Matthew and created something truly special in such a short time.”
They added:
“Within 24 hours of Natalie making the request, they made our daughter’s dream come true. The hospice team are amazing – we couldn’t have planned this any better ourselves. They’ve made us feel so comfortable and supported.”
Natalie’s mam also spoke about how special it was to see her daughter wearing her wedding dress and finally married to Matthew.
When asked what her favourite part of the day had been, Natalie simply replied:
“Every part of it. It was just perfect. Seeing Matthew in the chapel after walking in with my dad was so special.”
Stacey Hadlet also praised the staff who worked behind the scenes to bring the wedding together.
“It was truly inspiring to see the whole Butterwick team come together to create such a beautiful and personal wedding for Natalie and Matthew.
A special thank you to Georgia, Ali, Christina and Dan, who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it all happen within such a limited timeframe. Their dedication really shone through.
It was also incredibly moving to see the kindness and generosity of our local community. Visitors and patients shared how lovely it was to watch everything come together, with so much happiness and love throughout the day. I feel incredibly proud to be part of this amazing team and privileged to have been part of such a special occasion.”
Butterwick Hospice’s Senior Management Team added:
“This was an incredible example of teamwork, compassion and dedication. Staff, volunteers and local supporters came together at very short notice to create a truly meaningful day for Natalie and Matthew.
We are immensely proud of everyone involved and grateful to our community partners who helped make this possible.”
At Butterwick Hospice, supporting patients is about far more than clinical care. It is about helping people and their families create meaningful moments and lasting memories when they matter most.
Every day, the hospice supports people living with life-limiting illnesses, but this vital care costs around £13,700 every 24 hours and relies heavily on the generosity of the local community.
Moments like Natalie and Matthew’s wedding are only possible because of that support.
If you would like to help Butterwick Hospice continue creating precious memories for local families, you can make a donation or find out more about supporting the hospice by visiting butterwick.org.uk/make-a-donation or calling 01642 628930.
