A baby born five months early and given no chance of survival by neonatal specialists in the US state of Minnesota has celebrated his first birthday.
Beth and Rick Hutchinson’s son Richard weighed just 340 grams when he was born on June 5, 2020.
He was born 131 days before his due date at the Minneapolis children’s hospital after his mother suffered medical complications forcing her into early labor.
Born at a gestational age of 21 weeks and two days, Richard has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s most premature baby to survive.
He was so tiny he could fit in the palms of his parents’ hands.
According to Guinness World Records, Richard was born one-tenth of the average weight for a full-term newborn.(CNN: Rick and Beth Hutchinson)
“When Rick and Beth received prenatal counseling on what to expect with a baby born so early, they were given a zero percent chance of survival by our neonatology team,” Dr. Stacy Kern, from Richard’s neonatologist at Children’s Minnesota, told Guinness World Records.
Unable to stay overnight at the hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic, Richard’s parents traveled from their home in Wisconsin to visit their baby every day for six months.
He was finally discharged from intensive care and sent home in early December.
Mr. Hutchinson told Guinness World Records he believed their daily visits helped his son get through because “he knew he could count on us”.
“The same little boy that once fit in the palm of my hand, with skin so translucent that I could see every rib and vessel in his tiny body.”
Richard celebrated his first birthday at home with his parents and large extended family.
Guinness World Records took the milestone as an opportunity to officially recognise Richard the “miracle” baby as the most premature baby to survive.
Ms. Hutchinson told Guinness World Records: “It doesn’t feel real. We’re still surprised about it. But we’re happy.”
