Piedmont Cartersville helps couple celebrate wedding after welcoming their baby

Cartersville, Ga. (October 12, 2026) – Kelly Hatfield and Randall "RJ" Davis had planned for October 9, 2026, to be their wedding day. The couple had planned to marry before welcoming their child into the world, but when Kelly was admitted to Piedmont Cartersville to have her baby, those plans suddenly changed. Instead, the couple first celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Ruthie Jane, before saying "I do."

Determined to make their wedding day happen despite the unexpected change, RJ approached a hospital volunteer with a unique request: Was there a chaplain available to officiate a wedding?

The volunteer immediately connected with the hospital's Patient Experience team, which quickly began coordinating the details. The couple already had their marriage license and wedding rings. They needed a way to make the ceremony happen.

That's when Piedmont Cartersville staff stepped in.

Working together, Patient Experience team members coordinated with Phoebe Steiber, director of hospital operations, Chaplain Chuck, and members of the Labor and Delivery team to transform a hospital space into a wedding venue. They arranged decorations, provided cake and punch and rallied around the family to ensure the celebration was everything they had hoped for.

With newborn Ruthie Jane already welcomed into the world, Kelly and RJ exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony officiated by Chaplain Chuck. Surrounded by hospital staff, family members and supporters, the couple celebrated not only their marriage but also the newest addition to their family. In attendance were Jan Tidwell, chief nursing officer; Phoebe Steiber; members of the Labor and Delivery team; and numerous Piedmont employees who wanted to share in the couple's joy.

"There were not many dry eyes in the room," said Debra Highfield, manager of Patient Experience. "It was one of the sweetest and most sincere weddings we've ever experienced."

For Kelly and RJ, the wedding became an unexpectedly bright spot during one of the most important days of their lives. For the Piedmont team, it was a chance to live the organization's purpose: making a positive difference in every life touched by the health system.

At Piedmont, patient-centered care means caring for the whole person and supporting families through life's most meaningful milestones. While caregivers were focused on providing exceptional care for Kelly and baby Ruthie Jane, they were equally committed to helping the family celebrate a moment they will cherish forever.

In a single extraordinary day, Kelly and RJ welcomed their daughter, Ruthie Jane, and became husband and wife, surrounded by a community of caregivers who demonstrated that healing, compassion and human connection are at the heart of everything Piedmont does. What began as a simple question to a volunteer became a beautiful reminder that some of the most meaningful moments in healthcare happen beyond the bedside.

At Piedmont Cartersville, a hospital stay became both a birth celebration and a wedding day, creating memories this family will never forget.