| Jacob Edward Baird February 27, 1975 to December 25, 1997 |
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| Jacob was born February 27, 1975, at the Bernalillo County Medical Center (now the University of New Mexico Hospital) in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. |
| Of all my children, Jacob was the one who always came to me first when he was hurt or sick. Martha and Thomas would either go to me or their grandmother Wimberly. Either one of us would do, but Jacob only wanted me. He was born two months premature, and was the larger of the twins. He weighed in at 3 lbs 12 ozs. Jacob was not able to breathe unassisted when he was born. From the delivery room, the nurses literally ran to the newborn intensive care unit. He was put on a respirator to breathe for him. Like his brother Joseph, Jacob was not expected to live through the first night. At 3 days of age, Jacob's intestines perforated. A few days later, both his lungs collapsed. He was allergic to his own blood type. He was an extremely critically ill baby. We were encouraged to visit the babies often while they were still in the hospital. Only one day went by while they were patients, that we did not visit. During one of those visits, I was rocking Jacob when I felt a hand on my sholder. No body was even close to me, but I heard a voice say to me "Take good care of him, he's someone special." Through the Grace of God, Jacob lived, and at 2 months of age and 5 lbs, he and his brother Joseph came home from the hospital. (Read about Joseph on his page.) At the age of 18 months, Jacob was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. The doctor told us that he would never walk, never be able to learn, and would be totally dependent upon us for his every need. His advise was to put Jacob into a home and forget about him. I did not accept this. God had given Jacob to me for a purpose. I checked out every book ever written about Cerebral Palsy, and read everything I could about it. I found out that some with Cerebral Palsy can lead normal lives, just as you and I. I worked hard to get all the therapy I could for him. At 2 1/2 years, Jacob took his first steps. He was playing outside with his brother Thomas and sister Martha. I looked out the door to check on them and saw that Jacob was sitting in a mud puddle. I started out the door to get him out of the mud, when he stood for the first time, and took his first steps. I cried! From this point he progressed with amazing speed. With the years, he not only walked, but was an excellent student in school, and even played on the basketball team. He learned to ride a bicycle, and even drive a car. He held down a full time job, and was the top salesman. His life was as normal as anyone else. As a teenager, Jacob loved Christian music. He was a volunteer for a Christian Club for teens in Euless, Texas, called Footloose. While a volunteer there, he was able to meet many of the artists he liked. He played basketball with one group, he made friends with Steve Guyer (Christian Commedian) and met Rich Mullens, Randy Stonehill, Brian Duncan, Charlie Peacock, Bennie Hester, and many others. Jacob had a great sense of humor. He and his brother Thomas and sister Martha were best friends. They were very close in age, and did a lot of things together. He also became close friends with his second cousin Clifford Campbell. He and Clifford did a lot of guy things together. Clifford told his mother that he felt like Jacob was his brother. Jacob worked for Kwik Kar of Coppell, in Coppell, Texas. He had a good friend there also, with whom he did a lot of things. Gary and his sister Michelle would go with Jacob to the movies after work. On Christmas Eve, 1997, Jacob, Gary and Michelle went to see Titanic. * * * * * * * * * * It was on Christmas evening 1997 that Jacob (age22) along with Clifford (age 14) and Roy Lee Byerly II (another second cousin)(age 10) lost their lives in a terrible automobile accident. * * * * * * * * * * My life will never be the same. Jacob was very special to me. Not a day goes by that I do not remember him. I remember his smile, his voice, his face. He had such a sweet spirit. He loved God. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His never give up attitude will never be forgotten. His tombstone says "You touched so many hearts Thank you for touching mine" * * * * * Thank you God, for Jacob |
| Jacob Edward Baird taken in front of the Wise County Heritage Museum in Decatur, Wise Co., TX, 1996 |
| updated 08/07/2005 ** Note: this page will open slowly, because there are many pictures at the bottom. |
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| Just a note: A couple of weeks before Jacob's accident, he and I were having a talk. I don't know why, but I asked him the question, "If you died today, do you know where you would go?" His answer was "Yes." He said that he would go to Heaven. I asked him how he knew. His answer was, "Because I have asked Jesus into my heart." |
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| William Charles Baird and Jacob Edward Baird |
| This is a picture of the final resting place for the physical body of Jacob Edward Baird. In the background to the left you can see the grave of Roy Lee Byerly and directly behind the large flower arrangement in the middle you can see the grave of Clifford James Campbell. Sunset Cemetery, Montague Co., Texas December 1997 |
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| J A C O B |
| Jacob Edward Baird aboard the USS Seattle 1994 |
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