A 27-year-old man from North Carolina fulfilled his final wish by marrying his college sweetheart in a hospital room at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, just ten days before he passed away from a rare form of bone cancer.
Emotional Hospital Ceremony
The emotional ceremony was overseen by Paul Chong, the Boston Commissioner of City Records and City Registrar, who conducted the wedding directly from the groom's bedside. The event was surrounded by immediate family and close friends. A video of the milestone quickly went viral on TikTok after being shared by the bride, touching millions with their story of resilience and enduring love.
Love Story Beginnings
The relationship between Robbie Fox and his fiancée, Ke Peters, began during their freshman year at Elon University, though they officially started dating during their junior year. After graduation, the couple established a life together, moving between Connecticut and North Carolina.
Devastating Diagnosis
Their lives changed drastically in 2024 following a biking accident. Fox injured his hip in the crash, leading doctors to conduct a series of scans that ultimately uncovered a diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or the soft tissue surrounding them.
Relentless Treatment
Determined to seek top-tier medical care, Fox, Peters, and their families relocated to Massachusetts so he could receive specialized treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Fox underwent a grueling regimen consisting of 14 rounds of chemotherapy, 40 rounds of radiation, and dozens of blood transfusions. By February 2025, the intensive treatments appeared successful, and Fox was declared to be in remission.
Cancer Returns
The reprieve, however, was short-lived. In November, routine monitoring revealed that the cancer had returned. Despite aggressive pain management and medication over the subsequent six months, Fox's physical pain continued to intensify, prompting his family and Peters to transition his care to inpatient hospice services within the Boston hospital network. Reflecting on the decision, Peters remembered her husband saying, “Oh I’m fine not leaving the state of Massachusetts.”
Wedding Decision
By April, the couple had been engaged for roughly a year. Peters, constantly by Fox’s bedside, said, “Oh, I think we should get married, and he was so excited and so happy about it... Reflecting back, I was like I think it’s more meaningful he was my husband than not.” The wedding took place on April 15, marking exactly eight years to the day since the couple first met as college students at Elon University. Ten days after exchanging his vows and being legally wed, Fox passed away peacefully from the illness.
Bride's Tribute
“He taught me that I can be so strong,” Peters said following his passing. “There’s nothing I can’t do now... He was like, ‘Well, you know you’re going to live on... I did promise him I’d name my first-born kid after him and that kind of stuff just because of the impact he’s made.” She remembered her late husband as a deeply loving, outgoing, and avid outdoorsman.
Official Statement
In a statement following the ceremony, Commissioner Paul Chong expressed deep pride on behalf of the city registry team. “We are so proud to be a small part of Kelli and Robbie’s wedding - they are now literally a part of Boston’s history books. Kelli and Robbie inspire all of us to love even in the most difficult circumstances and remind us that families like theirs are what makes Boston special,” Chong said.
