Daughter shows wedding dresses for mom diagnosed with terminal cancer

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Surrounded by friends and family, Michelle Dacil teared up as she watched her daughter, Ashleigh Hoagland, try on wedding dresses. Music played in the background, lights twinkled, and trays of food sat off to one side.  But the fitting wasn't happening at a bridal store, or at Dacil's home. Instead it was in a lobby at Florida Hospital Orlando, where she is a patient.

Dacil has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and Hoagland wanted to make sure her mom got the chance to see her in her dress. "We don't know how much time my mom has left," Hoagland said, adding that she's hoping to get married later this month so her mother can attend.

One by one, she tried on a series of five dresses, supplied by David's Bridal for the event.  "She always wanted to be a nurse; she always wanted to help people," Dacil said of her daughter. "It's very humbling to be her mom."

"She's beautiful on the outside," Dacil added. "But more importantly she's beautiful on the inside."

Dacil has deep connections at Florida Hospital, where she worked in the billing and coding department.  Her son, Josh, works in the hospital's engineering department. And Ashleigh, who's working toward her Ph.D. in nursing, hopes to join Florida Hospital someday as well.  "Florida Hospital is a family affair for us," Dacil said.

Information provided by Florida Hospital.