Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Alijah Jasper of Logan was the first baby born in 2021 at Plains Regional Medical Center, arriving at 8:51 a.m. He is the fourth child in his family, and the first boy for Andruw and Beverly Jasper.
CLOVIS - Alijah Jasper was scheduled to come into the world Jan. 4 through a C-section delivery at Plains Regional Medical Center.
He had other plans, and instead arrived at 8:51 a.m. Friday as PRMC's first baby of 2021.
Alijah, who weighed 6 pounds, 2.9 ounces and measured 19'3/4" at birth, is the first male child in the family of Andruw and Beverly Jasper of Logan.
He joins his 2-year-old sister Azariah and 12-year-old twin sisters Aailyah and April.
The couple knew a boy was coming after the 20-week ultrasound and Beverly said the family was "super excited" about the development.
"I've been the only boy in the house for a long time," Andrew Jasper said, "I've been waiting for this."
Andrew, an equipment operator, and Beverly, who works at a nursing home, have been together for five years. Alijah is the second child born to Andrew and Beverly, with the twins coming from a prior relationship.
The surprise pregnancy was discovered in April, and the couple was working with a due date of Jan. 10 before deciding on the C-section delivery. But Beverly woke up early in 2021 with cramps, and the couple went to the emergency room not completely sure what the issue was.
The couple was relieved and surprised to find out Alijah was ready for delivery, and admitted they were unaware hospitals treated the first baby of the year any differently.
A gift basket filled with donations from 22 local businesses included a wagon stocked blankets, clothes, toys, diapers, wipes and gift cards.
The pregnancy wasn't largely altered by the pandemic, Beverly said, because the couple lives in a lightly populated area. However, hospital restrictions meant Andrew was unable to join Beverly for appointments outside of two ultrasounds.
Alijah's going to have plenty of family to see in the next few weeks. His great-grandparents Patricia and William Howe live nearby in San Jon, grandparents Chris and Dee Jasper live even closer in Logan and grandmother Bonnie Plymel is a few hours away in Midland, Texas.
