WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JULY 2, 2020 21
Two Astoria healthcare workers get married
during special ceremony on TODAY show
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
CMOHAMED@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Two frontline nurses from
Astoria shared their love with
the world as they tied the knot
during a live wedding ceremony on
NBC’s TODAY show on June 25.
Vanessa Baral, 27, a float nurse
from Long Island Jewish Forest
Hills Hospital, and Herwyn Silva,
28, a nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital,
were married by TODAY co-anchor
and ordained minister Hoda Kotb as
the couple’s coworkers held watch
parties for the ceremony at both
hospitals.
NBC is sending the newlywed
couple to Fiji for their honeymoon.
“It definitely caught us by surprise.
We still can’t believe it and we’re
still processing it,” the couple told
QNS. “We went back to work and
everyone said, ‘You’re going to Fiji!’
We are definitely in disbelief and
excited to take a trip next year.’”
NBC had contacted Lenox Hill Hospital
asking if there were healthcare
workers that had marriage plans affected
by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Silva, his manager or supervisor
sent the couple’s information,
which then led to a phone interview
for a wedding on live television.
“We were in disbelief. Vanessa
was next to me during that phone
call and started falling onto the
floor,” Silva said. “We still can’t
believe it happened and we’re just
so thankful.”
The couple’s May nuptials were
postponed by the pandemic. In early
April, Baral began feeling tired and
came down with the virus after
treating patients at LIJ Forest Hills.
Baral had suffered shortness of
breath, a dry cough, diarrhea, and
a loss of smell and taste, she said.
“It was a difficult time period. I’m
glad that I never had to be hospitalized,”
Baral said. “I didn’t want the
virus to progress and I kept telling
myself ‘you better fight this.’”
Silva said he was thankful that he
didn’t become sick but was worried
about Vanessa.
“I get worried sometimes especially
with loved ones,” Silva said. “I
try to protect myself as best as I can
at work because we all know where
the virus lives.”
Following Baral’s successful
recovery and then tying the knot
on television two months later, the
couple said their “hearts feel so full
with the whole experience” and are
glad their coworkers and family
were able to witness the ceremony.
“The whole crew at the TODAY
show were very welcoming and
they made it feel so much easier,” the
couple said. “We are really thankful
to be healthy and to have the
opportunity to share our love with
everyone.”
Astoria newlyweds Sherwyn Silva and Vanessa Baral married live on
NBC’s TODAY show. Photos courtesy of Northwell Health
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