A leukemia survivor secretly underwent months of physical therapy just so he could surprise his daughter by walking her down the aisle on her wedding day.

Heather Duquette's big day was made even bigger when her father, Ralph Duquette, stood up from his wheelchair and walked to her for the first time since his cancer treatment three years earlier.

According to CBS News, no one knew about the surprise. "Not a single person knew, except for my dad. He wanted to make sure it was a huge surprise; it was," Duquette told CBS News.

The bride-to-be sobbed as the two walked down the aisle while the song "Marry Me" played in the background.

Ralph Duquette surprised everyone again later when he completed his other fatherly duty: the father-daughter dance.

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Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com