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Michelle McCutcheon had a very good reason for missing her Nursing Pinning Ceremony at Keyano College, 23 years ago - she was in labour with her first child.

"Joshua came early. We had tickets to the dinner. I was actually in labour at the very moment when the ceremony was going on," laughs Michelle, who graduated from the two-year Nursing Diploma Program in 1985 and is now a Unit Supervisor for the Delivery Post-Partum and Ante-Partum Unit at the Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton.

This May, anticipating Joshua McCutcheon receiving his Nursing pin from Keyano College, Michelle's husband, Ben, hatched an idea to make the lost moment happen.

"I wrote to Bev Maron, Keyano's Nursing Chair, and suggested that Michelle be pinned along with Josh, and she was very helpful. She even suggested to keep it a surprise and that Michelle should pin Josh," explained Ben, who is the Director of Mail Operations for Canada Post, Edmonton.

The plan worked and on May 22 during the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Pinning Ceremony, not only did Michelle get her pin and roses, she even presented her son Joshua with his pin. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

"I was surprised and touched. It was great to be presented with the pin by someone I look up to, my mom" recalls Joshua, now working full-time for the Medicine Unit in the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

"It was very moving. I have been in college administration for over 25 years and this was one of the most emotional events I have ever attended," notes Ann Everatt, Vice President, Academic, Keyano College.

A touched Michelle says she is grateful to Keyano College for helping to orchestrate the event, and surprised that her husband kept it all a secret.

"I was shocked and surprised, doubly shocked because my husband is not known to keep secrets. I was there for Josh and so proud of him. To share this with him made the day special" notes Michelle.

"All the kids were so gracious to me; I want them to know I'm very grateful. To be pinned by Barb Reitz (Keyano Nursing Instructor) with whom I worked for seven years at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre was an added bonus. Fort McMurray is my home, and Keyano College will always hold a special place in my heart," she said.