James Kevin West Jr. was the first baby born in Richmond County in 2000. He celebrates his 10th birthday today.
James Kevin West Jr. was born at 12:02 a.m. Jan. 1, 2000 at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital to Sherri and Kevin West of Rockingham.
He’ll turn 10 this year and celebrate his birthday with his family and friends with a party on New Year’s Day.
“He usually doesn’t stay up until midnight,” his mom Sherri West said. “If he makes it, we’ll wish him Happy Birthday, but he’s usually asleep by then.”
West said having a baby born on New Year’s Eve was an overwhelming experience, as if having a baby period wasn’t enough.
“I was overwhelmed because he was my first anyway and I was only 20 years old,” West said. “It was an experience having him, and it was overwhelming being a new mother. I didn’t really care about when he was born.”
West said the doctor that delivered her son had to be called away from a New Year’s Eve party.
“When he came in to see me he had a tux on and his wife came in her party dress,” West said. “Before he delivered the baby, he wanted to watch the New Year’s ball drop on the TV.
“I was there dying and I’m watching the TV and as soon as the ball drops, he knew it was past the New Year, and he delivered him. He was born at 12:02. At the time I was just in misery.
“Even the next day I was still in a fog and the newspaper came by to get a picture and I was all swollen. News crews came from Charlotte because they were trying to find the first baby born in North Carolina, and I think there were a few couples that beat us by a few seconds.”
West said she was only in labor for six hours. Her water broke in the Harris Teeter parking lot and she arrived at the hospital around 6 p.m. and her labor started really quickly.
She said it went so fast she never had time to ask for an epidural, but in the last hour she asked for the anesthetic shot that goes around the spine, not in it like the epidural, so she could have some sort of relief.
“It was just overwhelming,” she said.
For expecting mothers who are anticipating New Year’s births, West said, “just enjoy the precious gift.
West said it’s been a good 10 years for her family.
“We’ve progressed a lot”
West has a second son now, Joshua, who is a March baby.
Her son James attends West Rockingham Elementary School and enjoys video games and being with friends.
James is the grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Thomas Watson and Mavis Watson of Rockingham, and Sandy and Diane West of Bakersville. He is also the grandson of Georgetta Clark of Rockingham, and the great nephew of Jimmy and Ann Watson and Nellie Cochran of Rockingham.
Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com
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