My wedding was thrown into chaos when guest collapsed – pal’s quick thinking saved the day, says Jess Wright
WHEN Towie’s Jess Wright planned for her dream wedding, she didn’t know her NHS paramedic pal would end up saving the day.
The reality star, 37, walked down the aisle with businessman William Lee-Kemp in Majorca surrounded by friends and family, including brother Mark Wright and sister-in-law Michelle Keegan in 2021.
But the nuptials were thrown into chaos when a guest fainted and pal Matt Morgan threw himself into action.
It’s one of the reasons she wants to thank the NHS and support The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards.
The TOWIE star wants YOU to nominate your health heroes for one of the gongs.
Do you know a doctor or nurse who went to incredible lengths with your care? There are ten different categories.
Just fill in the form below by July 31 for your health hero to have a chance of being shortlisted for our wonderful awards ceremony.
Jess says: “I used to dress up as a nurse when I was a little girl but I thought being a nurse was scary.
“I’m totally open to saying I’m not strong enough to do that job.
“It would really affect me because I’d feel so sad that so many people weren’t well.
“I certainly couldn’t do it, so thank God there are people in this world and country who can do it.
“The people who do it are selfless and brave.
“My very good friend Matty Morgan is an ambulance guy.
“He is incredible, and someone at my wedding actually passed out.
“Thank God he was there because he was straight on to it and sorted the ambulance out and knew everything that was going on.
“Without him at my wedding, that would have been more difficult. He’s invaluable.”
Devastating illness after son’s birth
Days after they wed, Jess discovered she was pregnant and the couple’s baby boy Presley was born in May 2022.
But her journey through motherhood has been far from easy, with the 37-year-old diagnosed with post natal depression which left her crying inconsolably for weeks on end.
She says if it wasn’t spotted by an NHS health visitor, she doesn’t know what would have happened.
She says: “When I was pregnant with Presley the antenatal clinic was amazing. I fainted at lunch once when I was six months pregnant.
“I think it was my blood pressure, all of my organs were crushed by the baby. I went to the hospital, and they saw me straight away. That was Harlow Hospital.
“Then after Presley was born the health visitor that came to my house noticed the depression and offered me a lot of help.
“Presley was also really struggling with constipation, and she assigned us an allergy specialist, and I’ve had that allergy specialist since he was born. She’s called Catherine, and she’s always on call.
“God forbid you do need help, the departments at the hospitals are amazing – especially for children.
“I’m so grateful to them for that. Everything that they provide is second to none.”
Life-saving care for dad
She also praises the NHS for helping her family during the pandemic, with Covid leaving her 65-year-old father Mark in a critical condition.
She says: “The NHS has helped us so many times. My dad Mark, he’s 65 now, he had Covid and was in hospital. It was really bad and touch and go.
“He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, and they gave him everything he needed. He was there for about a week.
“He always talks about how amazing the treatment was. If he hadn’t gone to hospital, he probably wouldn’t be alive.
“They saved his life.
“The NHS means the world to all of us, I don’t know how we would get on without them.”
Health heroes
One thing Jess firmly believes is that NHS staff require a substantial pay rise.
She continues: “I think the NHS is the most important thing we pay for by the taxman. It’s absolutely needed, necessary, and I couldn’t do without it.
“They need their wages raised, it’s so important. I really believe in that.
“There are so many professions in this country that earn an absolute fortune, there needs to be some kind of system whereby NHS staff get paid better too.”
And she’s grateful to The Sun for highlighting the incredible work of our NHS heroes.
She says: “Whenever I go to awards like that I feel so incredibly inspired. It makes people do better things. It’s so important to recognise these people and reward them for everything they do.
“I would love to come to the awards and support them. At the end of the day it’s supporting our heroes.”
As for motherhood and life with Presley, she says it couldn’t be better, adding: “Presley is doing really well. He’s running around a lot. I can’t believe how quick it goes.
“Having a bubba I’d say don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out to the NHS, when your health visitor comes, ask them all the questions, make sure you make the most of it.
“It’s one of the best things you can do.”