MIAMI (CBS4) – A special guest of honor walked a Miami woman down the aisle at her wedding this weekend – the doctor who saved her life.

In the spring of 2010, doctors found a large tumor in Janet Sierra’s abdomen. By the time she got to Jackson Memorial Hospital, the tumor was bleeding. Dr. Gaetano Ciancio operated on Sierra.

“When she was transferred to us she was very, very sick. She was very close to bleeding to death,” said Ciancio.

Janet’s mother said her daughter was given less than a one percent chance of surviving surgery, but nearly three years later she was ready to walk down the aisle and she did with her surgeon by her side.

“I wanted him to walk me down the aisle because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here,” said Sierra.

Sierra said she was nervous about asking Ciancio to be a part of her wedding.

“I didn’t know what the response was. He’s a busy doctor, he’s saving lives all the time,” she said.

Ciancio said the request was a surprise and an honor.

“It’s like walking an angel. What she went through and survived, all this, and now she’s going to get married this is a little miracle or a big miracle,” he said.

“I’m just happy that I’m alive and that I’m here,” said Sierra.