In Canton, South Dakota hospital, a coronavirus vaccine appointment turned into a surprise marriage proposal for a couple.
Robbie Vargas-Cortes, 31, a paramedic and EMS supervisor, was scheduled to get his coronavirus vaccine on December 23rd and knew his boyfriend was one of the vaccine administrators at Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center.
“I wanted for it to be a surprise,” Robbie said in a CNN report.
Eric Vanderlee, a registered nurse said he had no idea the marriage proposal was coming.
When Robbie rolled up his sleeve, there was already tape on his arm. Eric thought his boyfriend was jokingly indicating where the vaccine should be injected, “like a bullseye or something.”
But Robbie had taped a ring to his arm.
“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,” Eric said. He then administered the vaccine to his new fiancé.
Within 10 minutes, Robbie —vaccinated and engaged— was out the door responding to an ambulance call.
“Congratulations, Eric and Robby!” Sanford Health said on Facebook.
Robbie said he had the ring for three years and was waiting for the right moment to ask the question.
“We’re nearing the end of the pandemic. The vaccine is kind of like a new chapter,” Robbie said.
Last month, Eric volunteered to start administering the vaccine at Sanford Health. He lost his previously healthy 86-year old grandfather, Norman Vanderlee, to Covid-19 in November.
“He was a wonderful man,” Eric said. “Even though we had seen Covid as employees, to finally have a family member die was shocking.”
For Eric, vaccination became a personal as well as a professional objective.
“I want to be a part of this end. I feel like I can’t pass this up. It’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be the one giving the vaccine if I have the chance,” he said.
The newly-engaged couple said they will not be planning their wedding until after the pandemic.
“South Dakota is a very conservative state. We wouldn’t have had the right to marry without the Supreme Court in 2015. So to see such an outpouring of support, especially from our fellow South Dakotans, has been uplifting,” Robbie said. “It gives me new confidence to be okay with who we are. I always say I’m too scared to hold his hand in public, and now that this has happened, that seems kind of silly.”