'1% Survival Rate' 260g Yerang, 3.19kg Chubby and Healthy Went Home

Discharged Healthily Weighing 3.19 kg
Seoul Samsung Hospital Center Director: "Will Be a Hope for Low Birth Weight Premature Infants"

Yerangi, the smallest baby born in Korea, returned home in her mother's arms after 198 days of hospital care.

According to Yonhap News and Samsung Seoul Hospital on the 12th, Yerangi weighed 260g at birth on April 22, making her the smallest in Korea and the 14th smallest in the world. Yerangi was discharged in good health on the 5th, 198 days after birth. Her weight increased more than tenfold to 3.19 kg, and she can now breathe on her own without the help of mechanical devices.

On April 22nd, Yerang, who was born with the smallest weight in Korea (260g), was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit for 24-hour intensive care. Photo by Yonhap News, Samsung Seoul Hospital.

According to reports, Yerangi was a precious life that came after her parents had been married for three years. Since the day her existence was confirmed was November 11, she was nicknamed "(Bbae)bbelo." Although her parents expected to meet her in good health, Yerangi stopped growing from the 21st week of pregnancy.

Yerangi's mother was initially receiving care at a private hospital, but as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia worsened, she was transferred through a university hospital to Samsung Seoul Hospital. During this process, her mother's blood pressure gradually rose, and ascites developed, putting the situation at risk.

Eventually, Yerangi was born by cesarean section on April 22, four days after her mother was admitted. She was about the size of an adult palm. Immediately after birth, Yerangi was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit for 24-hour intensive care. She received mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure and septic shock, along with high-intensity treatments including antibiotics, vasopressors, and blood transfusions.

Yerangi faced critical challenges even after birth. Before she was one month old, her intestines were blocked by meconium. Because she was too small to undergo surgery, professors took turns carefully removing the meconium bit by bit. After passing meconium, Yerangi showed remarkable improvement and was soon taken off the ventilator, breathing on her own.

Professor Yang Miseon, who was in charge of Yerangi's treatment, said, "All the medical staff in the neonatal intensive care unit will never forget the moment Yerangi passed her first stool," adding, "Our belief that she would be discharged in good health grew even stronger."

A commemorative photo of Yerang, Yerang's parents, and Samsung Seoul Hospital officials. Yonhap News, Samsung Seoul Hospital.

The hospital stated that babies born weighing less than 300g have a survival rate of less than 1%, but Yerangi demonstrated a miraculous survival.

Yerangi also reassured medical staff by visiting the hospital in good health on her first outpatient appointment after discharge. Jang Yunsil, director of the Moa Intensive Care Center, said, "Yerangi will be a beacon of hope for all low birth weight premature infants to be born in the future," and added, "Everyone's attention and support are essential to find more opportunities to save lives beyond medical limits."