Saint Thomas River Park Hospital officials welcomed their first baby of 2021.
Phoenix Sky Wilkinson made her debut on Monday, Jan. 4, at 2:41 p.m. The baby girl, delivered by Dr. Ganapathy, weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces and was 18 and 5/8 inches long at birth. The proud parents are Kelsie Cox and Chatsworth Wilkinson.
“She’s our first,” said Kelsie.
Chatsworth added, “Probably our only.”
The name was chosen by the couple for the mythical bird that symbolizes birth, death, and rebirth, as well as eternity, strength, and renewal.
“The phoenix cures people that it cares about,” said Kelsie. “Her nickname will be Nyx, the goddess of night.”
The newborn has the added distinction of being born during a pandemic. Visitors were not allowed into the hospital.
“I actually enjoyed it,” said Kelsie, when asked about giving birth during a pandemic. “If we would have been allowed more than one person, my mom would have been in here. When my sister gave birth, she took a video of the entire thing. I didn’t want that. The pandemic gave me an excuse to say no.”
Visitors were allowed to stand outside and look through the window, and the proud parents were sending pictures of little Phoenix and posting them on Facebook.
Family Birthing Unit staff donated a box full of necessities and other goodies for the baby, including toys, diapers, blankets, bibs, socks, and booties.