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– Good news: your fiancé made an appointment to get the coronavirus vaccine. Better news: you are the nurse who has the honor of administering it to him. Best news of all: He introduces you before inserting the needle into his arm. This is the sweet story from the Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center in Canton, SD, where on December 23 paramedic Robby Vargas-Cortes showed up to receive his COVID shot, knowing that his five-year-old boyfriend, registered nurse Eric Vander Lee, would be one of the people handling vaccinations per CNN. But Vargas-Cortes intended to keep more than just vaccination up his sleeve – this is where he hides an engagement ring. ‘It popped into my head that I might just stick [the ring] to my arm, “he tells KELO.” In the way when [Vander Lee] rolls up his sleeve, then he sees it right there. ‘
A video uploaded to social media media shows the encounter, with Vargas-Cortes helping Vander Lee roll up his sleeve on his left arm so his boyfriend could inflict the shot. “It’s been a crazy year and … it’s been a fun ride to have you in my life,” Vargas-Cortes told Vander Lee when he saw the ring. Vargas-Cortes then begins his official proposal, while Vander Lee’s colleagues cheer and shout with praise, Vargas-Cortes puts the ring on Vander Lee’s finger and they embrace them. The two men had talked about fiancé in the past, and when Vargas-Cortes found out Vander Lee would help administer the vaccines, he thought, “What better opportunity?” per die New York Times. Sanford Health has delivered its best wishes to its two employees on Facebook. “Congratulations, Eric and Robby!” the hospital’s post reads. No date has been set. (Read more uplifting news reports.)