Chris Lowrey
SHAWVILLE May 4, 2018
After 14 years together, Dixie Atkinson and John Mitchem decided to tie the knot in an unorthodox way – in a ceremony at the Shawville Hospital on May 4.
Dixie, 70, and John, 71, decided to take the plunge after having a candid conversation with John’s doctor.
He pointed out that Dixie would have little to no say in John’s end-of-life care if they weren’t married.
Needless to say, there were also practical reasons to get married aside from the fact that they are in love.
A bad case of pneumonia put John in the hospital. On top of that, he’s currently fighting two different forms of cancer.
“We always talked about it,” Dixie said about tying the knot. “So we just kind of looked at each other on the Wednesday and said ‘Let’s get married’ and by Friday we were married.”
Both Dixie and John are getting married for the second time. Each lost their spouse 16 years ago and started dating one another 14 years ago.
With such short notice, the families of both snapped into action to make sure the couple had a memorable ceremony.
“My daughter and daughter-in-law went into high gear,” Dixie said with a laugh. “I didn’t really think it could be done but it was done and it was very nice.”
The ceremony was simple and small, with about a dozen family members in attendance, and was performed by an officiant from Renfrew.
“I don’t know if they’ve had a wedding in the chapel or not,” Dixie said. “I know they’ve had a wedding at a bedside.”
The newlyweds and their family then went to John’s hospital room to celebrate with cake. The rest of the family then went back to Dixie’s house while she stayed with her husband for a few more hours.
Although John is still in the hospital, Dixie said she’s hopeful she’ll be able to get her new husband home within the week.
Asked whether the wedding raised John’s spirits, Dixie was blunt.
“I sure hope it did,” she said with a chuckle. “It lifted my spirits a little bit anyways.”
Not only did Dixie’s first husband die of cancer, but she also battled breast cancer herself, so she’s no stranger to the disease.
“I needed something good to happen for a change,” Atkinson said.
The newlyweds are hopeful that when John gets out of the hospital they’ll be able to go for a proper honeymoon in the Caribbean. They also have a passion for camping and the two are a regular fixture at the local jamborees.
Dixie will get more time with her hubby once June rolls around and her job as a school bus driver wraps up for the year.
“It was a nice ceremony, a very original one,” she said in quite the understatement.
