River Jordan Guile

On October 11, 2019, three pounds and one ounce of stardust in the form of a little girl fell to Earth. Her foster/adoptive parents Jordyn Kristine Shawhan and Matthew Allan Guile found River Jordan when she was two and a half years old, medically fragile, without a home, but capable of fighting off twenty grown doctors and nurses during procedures. She even punched a reverend in the face on the day she was baptized two years ago.

Unfortunately, her paradoxically long fight yet short life ended on July 5, 2025.

What her found parents noticed first was that River loved music, so more music she was given. She was also read to regularly, and while she could not read herself, River would actively assist with turning pages or just staring intently at the illustrations. She had just begun piano lessons and was finally going to attend school this fall.

Shortly after birth, River Jordan was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a hole in her heart, Down syndrome, and more. She required oxygen tanks, a pacemaker, and constant monitors. Her home had to hold a small pharmacy and her delicate neck held a tracheostomy. This lent itself to one of her many nicknames, Robo Baby, among many other nicknames such as Riverbug, DJ RJ, Lizard, and of course, Street Fighter.

There are many things River could not do – swim, talk, walk, eat through her mouth – but she was so happy. The majority of her time was spent in constant play, quiet reading time, engaging with music, or play-hiding under an assortment of soft blankets.

However, there was pain and many hospitalizations, as you can imagine with a complex history. In Heaven though, River will never feel pain again, and she will probably join an angel harp band and be read many books from Heaven’s library.

While we personally believe River was the most special, miraculous angel on Earth, we know now she is a real angel in Heaven now. Since she is an angel that no longer requires her mortal body, River’s kidneys have been successfully matched and gifted to two grown adults, proving once again that her body had strength beyond that of a mere child.

River’s legacy will live on as her parents plan a foundation in her name under the working title The River Jordan Lifeline Foundation. The mission of this organization, once it is up and running, will be to provide age-appropriate musical toys to all institutionalized kids in Illinois and Missouri.

A funeral service for River will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Peoria with visitation being held one-hour prior to the service. Burial will conclude at Swan Lake Memory Gardens, Peoria.