Pregnant Alabama woman warned she may have a serious condition. But she decides marriage first, baby later

Dixie Guesnard and Ryan Richard had a rather eventful day when they stepped out to marry. Per People, the couple was at a local courthouse, fully prepared to exchange vows, when she received a sudden call from her doctor. Guesnard, a middle school teacher who was nearly 34 weeks pregnant, was advised to head to the hospital immediately, as her symptoms—which included swollen feet and elevated blood pressure—pointed toward a serious health concern.

Those specific symptoms are classic warning signs of preeclampsia, a dangerous hypertensive disorder that can develop during pregnancy. So, in a heartbeat, Guesnard was admitted to the Mobile-area hospital in Alabama. “I was told I wasn’t going anywhere until the baby was born,” recalled Guesnard, adding that doctors made a plan for her baby to be prematurely delivered the next day.

Despite the potential medical crisis, Guesnard was determined to marry Richard before their child arrived, and the hospital stepped up to make it happen. Led by labor and delivery manager Kensi Duncan, the team turned the hospital room into a wedding venue, complete with lights. The staff found a dress that would fit over the medical equipment Guesnard was attached to, sourced a bouquet, and even found ring pops to serve as wedding bands.

This is so cute, I love it

Preeclampsia is a condition that creates persistent high blood pressure that can escalate rapidly. It is unique to human pregnancy and is diagnosed when high blood pressure is accompanied by signs of organ trouble, such as issues with the kidneys or liver, or even brain-related symptoms like seizures and visual disturbances. As a condition, it can lead to life-threatening complications for both the mother and the baby if not managed correctly.

It can cause brain injury and blood clotting problems, and often restricts blood flow to the placenta. Thus, it frequently leads to premature births and smaller babies. While many women do go on to have healthy deliveries and recoveries, the condition remains a leading cause of maternal and infant illness, and it is a situation that requires immediate medical intervention to prevent severe outcomes.

The hospital’s chaplain, Kim Crawford-Meeks, officiated the short 10-minute ceremony, which was witnessed by family members and hospital staff. Immediately after the ceremony, Guesnard was moved through the hallway in a wheelchair, surrounded by a celebratory shower of confetti. 

The next chapter of their story began just 11 hours later. At 10:01 p.m. on May 1, Guesnard delivered their baby girl, Shelby Grace, who weighed in at 4 lbs., 14 oz. The transition from wedding day to delivery day was rapid, but the couple is now settling into their roles as parents. While their daughter remains in the neonatal intensive care unit, the couple has been staying at the nearby Ronald McDonald House.

Looking back on the whirlwind of those two days, Guesnard has a great sense of humor about the timing of these life-changing events: “Our wedding anniversary and our daughter’s birthday are both on the same day.” She added with a laugh, “We better not forget that.” It is certainly a unique story that they will be able to share with Shelby Grace for years to come.

Now usually, when we hear of hospital weddings, it comes attached with grief or really dire situations like cancer. Then again, I doubt the hospital staff get a chance to do something like this. After all, most stories about labor come with a lot of chaos, and sometimes random tricks to induce labor. 

Dixie Guesnard and Ryan Richard were just lucky to have a very planned schedule that allowed the hospital staff to make mom’s goals happen.