Jim-Ramirez triplets set their sights on life after high school
The Jim-Ramirez triplets: Sophia, Izech and Miley.
By LIZZIE BOYD
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — The Jim-Ramirez triplets are one of two known sets of triplets on the Fort Hall Indian reservation — the other is the Sequints triplets.
They are now 17 and will be graduating from Blackfoot High School in May.
Parents Jamie Ramirez and Tahnee Jim welcomed their fraternal (not identical) triplets at thirty-two and a half weeks premature on July 30, 2008, at Bannock Memorial hospital in Pocatello Idaho. Sophia Gayle was born at 9:07 p.m. at 4.5 pounds, Izech Buster at 9:08 at 3.9 pounds, and Miley Grace Jim-Ramirez was born at 9:09 p.m. at 4.6 pounds.
Tahnee explained, “Sophia and Izech shared the same growth sack, but since they were a girl and boy, they were not identical. If they were both girls, they would have been identical, and Miley had her own growth sack.”
The Jim-Ramirez triplets with their mother Tahnee Jim when they were younger.
The parents were both in shock when they found out they were having triplets, their father thought Tahnee was bigger than normal and told her he thought they were having twins. But after the doctor’s appointment — Tahnee took home four feet of ultrasound photos to show Jamie.
One week after birth, the triplets faced their first challenge in life, Sophia was taken by air transport to the Children’s Primary Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two days later, Izech was taken to the same hospital, Miley was showing signs of the same symptoms, and she was transported with Izech, but she was checked into the University of Utah hospital.
Both Sophia and Izech were diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) – a serious neonatal disease where intestinal tissue becomes inflamed and dies, primarily in premature infants.
With all three triplets in two different hospitals, Sophia and Izech at Children’s Primary Hospital and Miley at University of Utah, the parents spent time in Salt Lake City for the first week. After that, their father had return to work while Tahnee had to walk from hospital to hospital to spend time with her children. “It was hard, after having a c-section walking so much when you’re supposed to rest, and doing so much walking it was crazy, but I had to do it.” Tahnee recalled, “we would stay in Ronald McDonalds house during our time in Salt Lake, I started to come back during the week as my son was going to school.” The triplets were in Utah for about 30 days after birth.
The Jim-Ramirez triplets in cradle boards at three-months-old.
Sophia and Izech had to have multiple surgeries to remove infected parts of their colons. Now they live with no large intestine, in which they said, it does not affect them.
Talking about raising triplets Tahnee said, “It wasn’t that bad, I would keep two and rotate one of them with their, (grandpa John and grandma Karen) every other day.” With keeping two of the three babies, Tahnee would transport them in their cradleboards, “it was easier for me, to move or transport them in their boards.” Tahnee said, “We lost their dad in 2012, and since then we have just always kind of hung out together.” While raising the kids Tahnee said, “I was thankful to have help from my parents and the triplet’s aunts.”
The triplets talked about bath times growing up and said it was mostly spent together, Miley recalled “Izech was usually in the front cause he like to play with the water,” Sophia said, “I was usually in the back, because I liked to pour the water on Miley and pull her hair.” Tahnee said, “bedtime was usually 8:30 p.m. daily, and they were pretty good about being on a consistent schedule and routine.”
The triplets are direct descendants of Captain Jim, and they have also learned they are descendants of the Boise Valley people. The triplets enjoy learning about their history and land where they were also raised. They are thankful for their grandparents because of their teachings. Sophia said, “I think the trips to the mountains, and the knowledge they taught us about our land is something I cherish.” Sophia also said, “It seems to be common knowledge to me that other grandparents take their grandchildren to the mountains, but maybe not a lot of people take their grandkids out to the mountains and do that, so I cherish those times.”
Growing up the triplet’s fondest memories are when they had arguments, Izech recalls being bullied by his sisters. Their cousin Evie is a year and a half older, she recalled when they would swim in the ditch off Bannock Road in front of their grandparent’s house. Evie said, “we would lose our shoes in the ditch and always make Izech go and get our shoes from the ditch.” The triplets also talked about when they rode bikes down the road together.
The Jim-Ramirez triplets with their grandfather and cousin Evie.
Growing up in the Y2K era and being Gen-Z children the triplets recalled watching TV shows such as Spongebob, and Red the Dog was a show they enjoyed watching with their grandpa. They also enjoyed Marvel movies. Sophia and Miley mentioned their favorite toys were Barbies, and Monster High dolls. Izech said, “I pretty much played with whatever they had.” Tahnee said, “they were always outside playing, walking to Grandma Flo’s or Grandpa Clinton’s to help with animals or they would play in the ditch and bring back crawfish.” The triplets said, “we would keep the crawfish in a big blue wheelbarrow.” Miley said, “we would catch birds, snakes and frogs too.”
The triplets started their educational years in kindergarten and were in the first graduating class from Chief Tahgee. After that they grew up in the Blackfoot School District, attending IT Stoddard Elementary. In sixth grade they did not finish their year in school as they remembered it was cut short because of COVID-19. They ended up finishing their sixth grade online and didn’t return to school till their seventh-grade year in December, at Mountain View Middle School.
The triplets are now in their senior year of high school and will be in the graduating class of 2026. They are currently 17-years-old and while Sophia enjoys painting and studying for school, Izech enjoys learning about cars and is in the automotive class at school, while Miley is in the honor society and enjoys beading and creating beadwork. All three triplets are on the honor roll at Blackfoot High School.
They are looking forward to graduation, Sophia is planning to attend Boise State University, and major in Radiology. Izech is still deciding what he will do after high school but has a huge interest in a mechanic field and talked about working for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in the Fish & Game or Fisheries field. Miley is planning to also attend Boise State University and major in either environmental science or business administration. All three triplets look forward to a job with the Tribes. Miley would also like to travel and explore the world.
The Jim-Ramirez triplets: Sophia, Izech and Miley with their mother and cousin.
The triplets would like to encourage the youth. Sophia said, “you should go to college, take advantage of the fact that you have education.” Izech said, “some of my friends either drop out of school or get into drugs, find people that make school fun and stay in school.” Miley said, “find friends that have the same interests as you, and help make school easier.”
