Moffitt Nurse Helps Patient’s Love Story Come to Life
Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with chocolates, flowers and romantic dinners, but the greatest love stories are not always written in grand gestures. Sometimes, they unfold in the quiet strength of human connection, in hospital rooms lit by LED lights, and in the devotion of those who choose to show up, even when it hurts.
As a nurse in the clinical research unit at Moffitt Cancer Center, Natasha Singh had witnessed countless moments of human resilience, but none quite like this. She had dedicated her career to caring for patients with some of the toughest diagnoses, offering not only medical treatment but also compassion and a sense of normalcy in the most difficult of times.
“Each patient I touch, I treat them. I aim to make them feel seen, safe and cared for. This is why I signed up for this profession. This is why I care,” Singh said.
But nothing could have prepared her for the bond she would form with a 21-year-old patient with stage 4 Ewing sarcoma. She had spent years by his side, watching him endure the highs and lows of his treatment, sharing moments of laughter, sorrow and deep conversation. And now, in his final days, she found herself not just as his nurse, but as his sister, his confidante and ultimately the best woman at his wedding.
His diagnosis had stolen so many milestones from him — graduation, a career, even the chance to open Christmas presents waiting for him at home. But there was one thing still within reach: love. When his partner expressed a wish to marry him, the urgency was clear. There was no time for elaborate planning. Singh knew she had to act fast.
Overnight, she sprang into action, racing from store to store, gathering his favorite pink and white roses, LED lights and even a pair of matching wedding bands.
“I made bouquets for both of them and sprinkled rose petals in front of the nurse’s station. We lined the aisle with LED lights. The wonderful charge nurse hung soft white lights around the room. It was magical,” Singh said. “Even the Moffitt cafeteria staff helped out and managed to bake a wedding cake in just two hours.”
As his father walked his love down the makeshift aisle and they exchanged rings, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
“Before he left, with the little breath he had, he said to me, “‘Every little thing you do means the world to them,’” Singh said. “It was truly an honor and privilege to get to know such an amazing human being.”
For Singh, those words were more than a parting message, they were a reminder of why she chose this path. In that moment, she realized that all the long shifts, the exhaustion and the emotional weight of the job were not in vain. Every late-night visit, every doughnut run, every small effort to bring joy to her patients truly mattered.
