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Dying Judge Officiates Daughter's Wedding From Hospital Bed

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (CBS/AP) — A dying judge who had vowed to officiate his daughter's wedding was able to keep his lifelong promise — from his hospital bed.

Casey Kapalko, 27,  and her partner, Stephanie, were married April 15 by Casey's father, Monmouth Superior Court Judge Paul Kapalko, in the intensive care unit of a New Jersey hospital.

The Asbury Park Press reports he was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2011 and was originally given four or five years to live. During his treatment, he was visited frequently by Casey and his other daughter, 23-year-old Christina.

"He was always well-spoken, so thoughtful in his words," Casey told the news outlet. "We both wanted him to do it."

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Paul Kapalko initially volunteered to marry Casey and her partner after she announced her engagement in 2016.

Casey and Stephanie originally planned their wedding for November but moved it up to May after Paul was moved to the ICU. On April 15, Casey asked her partner if she wanted to get married that day by her father.

"He'd keep telling the doctors and nurses let's make it to May 6, " Christina said, according to the report.

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The hospital room ceremony was held with close family and friends wearing masks and gloves since Paul's immune system had become weak from his illness. Christina served as the maid of honor.

Paul died 12 days after the ceremony.

On Saturday, Christina will be running the Damon Runyon 5K at New York's Yankee Stadium in memory of her father.

(TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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