A proud brother fought back tears of joy when his sister surprised him by naming her baby son after him.
Kortel Robert Marshall, who goes by Rob, shares an incredibly close bond with his sister, Jordan, 20, as the pair, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, were born just 18 months apart.
Their mom, Shantelle, said Rob, 19, and Jordan were seen by family members as “partners in crime” growing up.
And so, when Jordan, who is stationed in Bremerton, Washington, with the United States Navy, started thinking of names for her son, she immediately set her heart on Kortel.
The name was perfect, Jordan said, as it paid homage to her brother, was a nice name, and was also one Rob didn’t go by in day-to-day life.
On August 4, Jordan gave birth a week earlier than her expected via C-section, meaning Shantelle was by her side, but her brother, who had planned to fly in on August 5, missed the moment.
But having arrived at St Michael family birthing center, in Silverdale, Washington, Rob immediately lit up when he saw his first nephew.
The 19-year-old asked to hold the newborn in his arms, and after Jordan had left a pause for Rob to take everything in, she was asked by her brother, “What’s his name?”
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At that point Jordan broke the news, which saw Rob immediately moved by the gesture, fighting back tears and taking deep breaths.
Jordan, meanwhile, couldn’t help by laugh, saying “Please don’t drop my son,” as her brother welled up.
First-time grandma Shantelle said: “My daughter didn’t tell anybody what she was naming the baby except me and my mother – so it wouldn’t get back to her brother – but since my family can’t keep secrets, almost everybody knew except my son.
“I picked my phone up and then watched as he held the baby and asked what she named him, because the suspense was killing him.
“I was really excited for the moment to unfold. I said he was probably going to cry – which he most definitely did.
“He stayed the night at the hospital with his sister, who had ended up having to get a C-section, so he could help her with the baby like I did the first night.
“Jordan said every time she woke up that night she looked over and the baby was in her brother’s arms.”
