Iowa Baby Sets New World Record For Youngest Premature Baby Born

Iowa has a new world record holder.

Guinness World Records has announced that a little boy born in Iowa is now the youngest prematurely born baby on record.

According to KCCI, Nash Keen turned 1 year old on July 5th. He was born 21 weeks exactly early. He was born so prematurely that he is the first to be born and live.

The previous record was 21 weeks and two days.

Just look at little Nash:

He's so cute!

When he was born at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, he only weighed 10 oz and was immediately admitted to the NICU.

Because no baby had been born that prematurely and lived, Dr. Patrick McNamara, Neonatology Division Director at Stead Family Children's Hospital, told Nash's parents the outlook was grim but not to lose hope. They took the situation one day at a time. Dr. McNamara told KCCI:

I told them, based on current technology and science, the chances of survival are zero, but we will do everything in our power to try and beat those odds.

After Nash's "resilience" (as doctors put it), 4 surgeries, and 7 months in the NICU, little Nash finally got to go home.

Nowadays, as he just turned 1, Nash relies on oxygen 24/7 and takes daily medication. But based on the journey of a life he's had so far, his parents and doctors are optimistic for his future.

His dad, Randall, said he can't wait to play golf with his son someday. Mollie, Nash's mom, says she hopes their story brings hope to other preemie families.