FORT BRAGG, N.C.--The “Roaring Twenties” began just after midnight for the first baby born in 2020 at Womack Army Medical Center.
Mother Kaitlyn Heisterman and father Spc. Justin Jackson welcomed their first child, a girl, Sloan Jackson, 6 pounds 10 ounces, at 12:45 a.m.
New Year’s Day was a day of celebration and surprise for Jackson and his wife. They had been told numerous times during their pregnancy they were expecting a boy.
“I really did not know what to do,” said Jackson who is assigned to the Special Warfare Training Group at Fort Bragg. “I looked over to my mom and said, ‘that’s not a boy.’”
Womack Chief Medical Officer Col. Mark Ochoa helped ease the astonishment by presenting the family with a gift basket from The Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
“We love her and can’t wait to get her home and these girl’s clothes will help us out,” said a tired but optimistic Heisterman. “We can give the clothes we have to friends who are expecting boys.” Jackson comes from a large family and hopes to continue the tradition.
Heisterman is open to having more kids but wants the memory of this labor behind her first.
Baby Jackson holds the honor of being the first baby born in Cumberland County, N.C., for 2020.
Delivering an average of eight babies a day, Womack is one of U.S. Military and North Carolina leading labor and delivery units.