From Night 1 of The Golden Bachelor to the highly-anticipated Golden Wedding, Bachelor Nation watched 72-year-old Gerry Turner and 70-year-old Theresa Nist meet, date, fall in love, and tie the knot on television. But another special someone was also present for nearly every step of the once-in-a-lifetime journey: Golden Bachelor runner-up Leslie Fhima.
During the dramatic Golden Bachelor finale and After the Final Rose special back in November, Fhima revealed that her Fantasy Suite date with Gerry left her so sure she was the woman he would spend the rest of his life with that she started wedding prepping. “I went and picked out a beautiful blue dress, the color of our eyes, I wrote my vows,” Fhima told franchise host Jesse Palmer. “It was the happiest day of my life except for the day I thought was coming.”
After such devastating heartbreak, members of Bachelor Nation naturally doubted whether or not Fhima would attend Turner and Nist’s January 4, 2024 nuptials alongside fellow Golden Bachelor alum, including wedding officiant Susan Noles. But when the big night arrived, not only did Fhima show up to support the happy couple, she attended the senior soiree just days after leaving the hospital post-health scare!
Photo: ABC
In the lead-up to The Golden Wedding, Fhima hopped on Instagram to inform followers that she was in the hospital due to a bowel blockage. In a video recorded from her hospital bed, she explained that the issue was related to her childhood appendectomy and assured everyone her spirits were high despite the unexpected setback. On January 3, aka Golden Wedding Eve, Fhima posted another Instagram Story to thank fans for their support and deliver another status report. “I’m definitely on the mend,” Fhima explained. “I’m feeling so much better that now I get to go to the wedding and I can’t wait to support Gerry and Theresa in their beautiful day. And I know it’s gonna be really really amazing.”
After arriving at the big event, Fhima’s fellow Golden Bachelor alum Kathy “Zip It” Swarts — one of the evening’s esteemed Gold Carpet Correspondents — called Fhima over for an interview and bluntly reminded her that she didn’t get the man of her dreams, she had her heart broken on national television, and she also had a recent medical scare. (Classic Kathy!) When asked “Why are you here tonight?” Fhima replied, “At our age we have to celebrate love, and I was very good friends with Theresa we supported each other throughout the whole time in the house and all the way through this journey and I’m so so happy for her and Gerry, I really am. And I’m here at the end of the day to support love in any way.”
Photo: ABC
Not only did Fhima show up to support her ex Turner and her close friend Nist,