Labor room at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital becomes wedding chapel for expectant couple
“It was special for the couple, but also for our staff. These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do,” said Kensi Duncan, BSN, RN.
By Casandra Andrews
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A labor and delivery room at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital was transformed into a makeshift wedding chapel on May 1 after hospital staff stepped in to help an expectant mother and her fiancé complete a ceremony interrupted by a pregnancy complication.
The couple, Ryan Richard and Dixie Guesnard, had planned to be married earlier in the week at the courthouse, but their plans changed suddenly when the bride-to-be received a call from her physician instructing her to come to the hospital immediately. A pregnancy-related complication required close monitoring to ensure the safety of both mother and baby.
They left the courthouse and headed to the hospital.
When nurses in the Labor & Delivery unit learned the couple’s wedding plans had been postponed, they asked how they could help.
“We had to go all out for them,” said Kensi Duncan, BSN, RN, nurse manager for Labor & Delivery. “They weren’t expected to deliver for several more weeks, and the patient told us all she needed was a notary to sign the paperwork so they could be married.”
That simple request quickly grew into something more.
“I asked that morning if anyone had flowers or anything they could contribute,” Duncan said. “Before I knew it, we had Chaplain Kim [Crawford-Meeks] officiating and a cake from dietary services.”
Staff members and hospital departments worked together to add meaningful touches to the ceremony. Volunteer Services provided a bouquet, Patient Relations helped secure the marriage license certificate, and health system photographer Bill Starling documented the couple exchanging vows. Paper decorations were added to the labor room, and the bride’s family even purchased a dress from the hospital’s gift shop.
As the bride walked across the room in socks, she pushed an IV pole to stay connected to monitoring equipment. Family members and members of the USA Health care team gathered to offer their support and well wishes.
After the ceremony, the song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” was played as Richard wheeled his bride down the hallway, confetti fluttering around them.
“It was special for the couple, but also for our staff,” Duncan said. “These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.”
