Piedmont Augusta helps patient fulfill baptism request ahead of heart surgery

Augusta, Ga. (May 11, 2026) – Just before undergoing major heart surgery at Piedmont Augusta, patient Akira Joy Hendricks had one deeply personal request. She wanted to be baptized.

Hendricks, who was experiencing advanced heart failure, was preparing to receive a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a mechanical pump that helps the heart when it can no longer function on its own. Because part of the device remains outside the body after implantation, full immersion in water is no longer possible. That made the timing of her request critical.

When Hendricks shared her wish with her care team, hospital staff began working immediately to find a solution. An inflatable pool was set up inside a patient room bathroom, a family friend arrived to serve as pastor, relatives gathered nearby, and staff from across the hospital came together to witness the moment.

“It was time-sensitive, and we wanted to make sure she could safely meet her spiritual needs before surgery,” said Jimel Carpenter, director of the cardiovascular service line at Piedmont Augusta. “LVAD surgery is a complex open-heart procedure, and this mattered deeply to her.”

Chaplain Jerry Schneider said the request came directly from Hendricks and initially seemed challenging to accommodate. “It was an incredible request,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it happen, but we committed to looking for a way.”

“There was not a dry eye in the room,” said Connie Melchert, executive director of operations at Piedmont Augusta. “Helping our patients goes beyond meeting physical needs. It includes supporting them emotionally and spiritually, too.”

Hendricks herself set the tone for the moment, Schneider said. “She told us, ‘This is not about me. This is about God.’ That stayed with me.”

Following the baptism, Hendricks underwent her LVAD surgery and her recovery is progressing.

While Piedmont Augusta teams have supported families through weddings, anniversaries and other milestones, this was the first full immersion baptism performed on campus.

For those who witnessed it, the moment served as a powerful reminder that compassionate care means honoring the whole person.