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ALSO COVERING ELMHURST, JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND CITY, MASPETH, MIDDLE VILLAGE, REGO PARK, SUNNYSIDE
July 3-9, 2020
Two Astoria healthcare workers get married
during special ceremony on TODAY show
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
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
Astoria newlyweds Sherwyn Silva and Vanessa Baral married live on NBC’s TODAY show.
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
Photo courtesy of Northwell Health
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.”
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Vol. 8 No. 27 28 total pages
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