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Baby in Ascension Midtown mural celebrates 8th birthday





The White family — Java and Kimberley White and their daughters Jordyn and Jasmyn — and Ascension leaders celebrate eight years together and one final visit to the mural of Jordyn before the building it adorns is demolished.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

The White family — Java and Kimberley White and their daughters Jordyn and Jasmyn — and Ascension leaders celebrate eight years together and one final visit to the mural of Jordyn before the building it adorns is demolished.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown hosted a party Tuesday afternoon for twins Jordyn and Jasmyn White, who spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit eight years ago. They celebrated their birthday Tuesday, although they won’t turn 8 until Jan. 13.

“(Jasmyn) was in fetal distress,” recalled their mother, Kimberley White. “I had to go on bed rest at 26 weeks pregnant. And they were monitoring me multiple times per day … hoping to get them for 32 weeks. … As they explained, sometimes one twin can take more blood and oxygen and food supplies so that’s why they delivered early. It was a lifesaving method for her and also her as well. I delivered them at 30 weeks.”

Jordyn and Jasmyn had to stay in the NICU for weeks after their premature birth. Jasmyn, who weighed just 1 pound at birth, underwent several surgeries and spent 10 weeks in the NICU. Jordyn weighed 2 pounds at birth and was discharged after five weeks in the hospital. White says both daughters have thrived since.

Jasmyn and Jordyn White stand near the mural that adorns a building set to be demolished within the next few weeks. The mural features Jordyn as an infant.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Jasmyn and Jordyn White stand near the mural that adorns a building set to be demolished within the next few weeks. The mural features Jordyn as an infant.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Jasmyn and Jordyn were happy to celebrate their birthday with cupcakes and photos with their parents.

Nearly eight years ago, Jordyn’s picture was taken by a professional photographer working for Ascension Saint Thomas shortly after she was discharged from the NICU. The photo, which shows Jordyn lying in a person’s hand, was added to the side of the Mid-State Building on the Midtown campus in 2014. It is now an enduring image for the hospital’s advertisements that has appeared on billboards, bus stop signs, airport signs and is currently on display in the cafeteria of the Midtown campus.

“For the past eight years, we’ve had the ability to share this story and let people know it was more than just a baby and a pair of hands,” White said. “We had our faith, our family and our friends to help us through a major storm in our lives, and when we see that picture still up over eight years later, it’s just a reminder of God watching over our family, keeping them healthy, they’re thriving, and we’re blessed because the outcome doesn’t always come out that way. We’re extremely blessed.“

Jasmyn and Jordyn White stand with their parents as their story is introduced by Kristen Toth, vice president of oncology services at Ascension Saint Thomas.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Jasmyn and Jordyn White stand with their parents as their story is introduced by Kristen Toth, vice president of oncology services at Ascension Saint Thomas.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

The image is set to come down when the building is demolished as part of the ongoing Midtown modernization plan. The buildings are set to be replaced with a dedicated women’s entrance off Church Street and a new medical office building.

Kristen Toth, vice president of oncology services at Ascension, said the nursing and clinical teams were sad to see the picture go.

“We have thought through to try and figure out if there’s any way to get it off and reuse it, but our facilities people tell us it’s not possible,” Toth said. “Jordyn and Jasmyn will always be part of our legacy here at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown.”

Kimberley and Java White said they are thankful for the privilege they were offered by Ascension to put their daughter on display and that the image was able to stay up for eight years.

This picture of Jordyn White was added to the Mid-State Building in 2014 after her stay in the NICU. The building will be torn down in the coming weeks as part of the Midtown modernization plan.Courtesy of Anjali Bright / Ascension Saint Thomas

This picture of Jordyn White was added to the Mid-State Building in 2014 after her stay in the NICU. The building will be torn down in the coming weeks as part of the Midtown modernization plan.Courtesy of Anjali Bright / Ascension Saint Thomas

“It’s been up much longer than we would’ve anticipated, and we have plenty of pictures to commemorate the journey, and I just love it,” she said.

The mural will remain up at the Midtown campus for several weeks until the demolition work begins.

Java and Kimberley White hold their twin girls, Jordyn and Jasmyn. The girls were born on Jan. 13, 2014, 10 weeks before their due date.Courtesy of Anjali Bright / Ascension Saint Thomas

Java and Kimberley White hold their twin girls, Jordyn and Jasmyn. The girls were born on Jan. 13, 2014, 10 weeks before their due date.Courtesy of Anjali Bright / Ascension Saint Thomas

 

 

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