Reston Hospital team rallies together to plan patient's wedding
Keiko Aigbaze and Kahil Britt's plans were changed after being rushed to the hospital to deliver their son
When Keiko Aigbaze and Kahil Britt decided to get married, they traveled to Africa in March 2023 to arrange their November wedding. The day after they returned to their home in South Riding, Virginia, Keiko found out she was pregnant. The couple wanted to get married before the baby arrived, so they made a new plan. Keeping their original November date in mind, they scheduled a weekend in Northern Virginia for family and friends and rescheduled the African wedding ceremony. They chose to get married at the Leesburg Courthouse on a Friday, followed by a maternity photoshoot the next day, and a large baby shower with all of their loved ones traveling distances from Minnesota, New York, and Texas – just to name a few.
However, during an OB appointment prior to the festivities, Keiko learned she needed to be medically induced in the hospital. The couple said they really wanted to get married when they brought their son into the world, but calmly relinquished their arrangements.
“I trust that everything happens for a reason and God has a plan,” Keiko said.
When the labor and delivery team at Reston Hospital found out the couple was missing their wedding day, they sprang into action. Keiko’s primary nurse (Emily Pacileo) and charge nurse (Danielle Viates) worked together with the L&D manager (Katie Beck) to coordinate a ceremony. Despite not being able to find an Imam to marry Keiko and Kahil at the hospital, the L&D team was able to involve the hospital chaplain (Bette Goglia) to lead the ceremony. The food and nutrition team brought a cake and champagne and hospital staff became the videographers and photographers for the momentous occasion.
“We are just so grateful to Reston Hospital for making this day so special for us,” said both Keiko and Kahil.
On November 17, Keiko and Kahil were married at Reston Hospital with Keiko’s mother and Reston Hospital team present. Later that evening they brought their son, Kwame, into the world to begin their new family tree.