A paramedic turned his Covid-19 vaccine appointment into a marriage proposal when he asked his boyfriend, a nurse, who was administering the vaccination, to marry him.
Last month, paramedic and EMS supervisor, Robby Vargas-Cortes arrived at Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center, in Canton, South Dakota, where his boyfriend of five years, Eric Vanderlee, works as a nurse, to get his first dose of the Covid vaccine.
However, prior to the 23 December appointment, Vargas-Cortes had taped a ring to his arm, which he wanted Vanderlee to find when he rolled up his sleeve.
In a video of the proposal, shared to the medical center’s Facebook page, Vanderlee’s surprised reaction is captured, as well as his immediate “yes” as colleagues cheer the couple on.
According to Vargas-Cortes, who spoke to CNN, that had been his goal with the unique proposal.
“I wanted for it to be a surprise,” he said, with Vanderlee referring to the moment he realised what the tape was holding as “amazing”.
He recalled: “It just kind of dawned on me and I was like: 'absolutely, of course, yes.' It was just an amazing moment after I figured it out.”
Vanderlee later shared a photo of his hand wearing the new engagement ring next to a dose of the Covid vaccine on Instagram, where he expressed his happiness and shock over the moment.
“Today I drove through a blizzard to administer Covid-19 vaccine in Canton. When Robby pulled up his sleeve for his shot, there was a ring!! I am so happy and shocked! As we usher Covid into history, I am so excited for the future,” he wrote.
On Facebook, where the video has since been liked more than 10,000 times, the medical centre shared its congratulations to the couple, with hundreds of people also joining in.
“Congratulations, what a special way to enjoy and celebrate making it through a crazy year. Hold those you love close and never let go!” one person commented.
Another said: “This brings me so much happiness! Congratulations to the both of you, and thanks for saving lives in the process. We will never forget our heroes.”
As for why Vargas-Cortes chose that moment to propose, after having the ring for three years, he told CNN: “We're nearing the end of the pandemic. The vaccine is kind of like a new chapter.”
