An American baby who was born extremely prematurely last year celebrated his first birthday this month. Nash Keen is now officially the earliest born child ever to survive his early birth.
Nash was born 133 days prematurely in Iowa last year. His mother Mollie was only 21 weeks pregnant when she gave birth. Normally, a pregnancy lasts about 280 days, or forty weeks.
The baby weighed less than 300 grams at birth and was the size of a hand. He spent the first six months of his life in the hospital’s intensive care unit. There, he made a “miraculous development,” according to doctors who treated him, AP reports.
Last January, his parents were finally allowed to take him home. Nash still needs medical help and is given oxygen and food, but according to doctors, he is “as healthy as they could have hoped.”
“Our little go-getter is so determined and curious. He laughs all the time. He is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to us,” says mother Mollie. “Whether you call him ‘Nash Potato’ or play with him, he radiates joy,” adds father Randall.
Guinness World Records has officially recognized Nash as the earliest born child ever, now that he has reached his first birthday.