A baby born 133 days early celebrates first birthday
Nash Kien sets new Guinness World Record as "most premature baby to survive"
A baby born a remarkable 133 days earlier than the expected due date has grown up healthy and celebrated their first birthday. This baby has been officially listed in the Guinness World Records as the "most premature baby to survive."
On the 23rd (local time), Guinness World Records announced, "Nash Kien, who was born on July 5 last year in Iowa, USA, has officially been recorded as the most premature baby to survive, having reached one year of age." Nash was born one day earlier than the previous record holder, making him the new record holder.
On July 5 last year, Nash Keen, a premature baby born at 21 weeks of pregnancy, survived safely and celebrated his first birthday. Guinness World Record
Nash was born a year ago at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. At birth, the baby weighed only 285 grams, which is lighter than a grapefruit. His length was 24 centimeters, less than half the average length of babies born after 280 days of gestation. Immediately after birth, Nash had to be admitted to the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. Dr. Amy Stanford, a neonatologist who was Nash's primary doctor, explained, "Caring for a baby born at 21 weeks is very different from caring for a typical premature infant," and added, "A baby born this early requires highly specialized care, continuous observation, and frequent monitoring."
Nash faced numerous challenges in the early days but demonstrated remarkable resilience. It was only after three weeks that he was able to be held in his mother's arms for the first time. While the medical staff did everything possible to help Nash recover, his parents endured a painful period of waiting. Nash's mother, Molly, described the first few days after Nash's birth as "a blur of fear, uncertainty, and hope."
She recalled the moment she first held her baby, saying, "He was so small that I could barely feel him on my chest," and added, "He was covered in wires and monitors, which made me very nervous, but the moment he was placed on my chest, all the tension disappeared." She continued, "I can't describe how long I waited for that moment of skin-to-skin contact with my baby. When I finally held him, a pure sense of relief and love washed over me all at once."
After about six months of hospital treatment, Nash was finally able to go home in early January. However, Nash still requires ongoing medical care. He uses oxygen support and a feeding tube, and wears a hearing aid due to mild hearing loss. He also receives treatment and regular checkups at a specialized medical daycare center.
Nash's parents, who were able to celebrate their baby's first birthday safely, expressed their gratitude to the medical staff. "The medical team cared for Nash with love and treated us like family," they said. "They made a frightening and sterile environment feel as comfortable as home." Dr. Stanford also responded, "Nash and the Kien family taught us the power of never giving up hope," and added, "Their resilience and determination have been a tremendous inspiration."
The Kien couple originally did not seek attention, but felt it was their duty to speak up and celebrate how much Nash has grown. They said, "By sharing Nash's story, we hope to give hope to other families on difficult medical journeys and show what is possible even in the most uncertain situations." They added, "The world may see a miracle or a new record, but we see our son, whom we love to cuddle, make silly noises with, and blow raspberries."
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