Love, Laughter and ''I Do'': Piedmont Cartersville Helps Couple Celebrate Wedding After Welcoming Baby

Cartersville, Ga. (Oct. 13, 2026) – For Kelly Hatfield and Randall "RJ" Davis, Oct. 9, 2026, was meant 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 a reality despite the unexpected change in plans, RJ approached a hospital volunteer with a unique request: Was there a chaplain available who could 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. What they needed was 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. Decorations were arranged, cake and punch were provided, and caregivers rallied around the family to ensure the celebration would be 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. Among those 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 an opportunity to live the organization's purpose of 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.


About Piedmont 
Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia’s growth through safe, cost-effective, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization that for centuries has sought to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. Across our 2,000 physical locations we care for more than 4.5 million patients and serve communities that comprise 85 percent of Georgia’s population. This includes 27 hospitals, 115 immediate care locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and more than 3,900 Piedmont Clinic members. Our patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they scheduled more than 657,000 online appointments and over 239,000 virtual visits. With nearly 50,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based private employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2024 and 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. Piedmont provided more than $844 million in community impact in Fiscal Year 2025.
For more information, or to book your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.