The most premature baby in the world has celebrated his first birthday after he was given by doctors a zero percent chance of survival.
Richard Scott William Hutchinson was born 131 days or five months premature, weighing only 337 grams or 11.9 ounces.
His mother was rushed to Children’s Minnesota hospital and went into labor after suffering complications related to her pregnancy.
Richard was certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s most premature baby ever born.
But doctors warned Beth and her husband Rick to prepare for the worst as the baby was born very early.
Richard’s neonatologist at Children’s Minnesota, Dr. Stacy Kern, said: “When Rick and Beth received prenatal counseling on what to expect with a baby born so early, they were given a 0 per cent chance of survival by our neonatology team.
“I knew the first few weeks of Richard’s life would be very difficult, but I felt that if he could make it through that, he would be a survivor.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Beth and Rick were not allowed to visit Richard in the neo-natal ward. They had to drive for hours from Wisconsin to Minneapolis every day to see their brave little fighter.
After spending six months in the neonatal intensive care unit, Richard was finally ready to go home.
Hospital staff were also delighted to see that the little fighter managed to fight the odds.
“The day Richard was discharged from the NICU was such a special day. I remember picking him up out of his crib and just holding him with tears in my eyes,” Dr. Kern told Guinness World Records.
“I couldn’t believe this was the same little boy that once was so sick, that I feared he may not survive. 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,” Dr. Kern continued.
“I couldn’t help but squeeze him and tell him how proud I was of him.”
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