An American baby celebrated his first birthday after overcoming all odds and achieving a "miracle" as the world's smallest surviving premature baby, according to CNN. The infant, Richard Scott William Hutchinson, was born five months early, measuring no more than the palm of a hand and weighing only 430 grams. Doctors at the Minnesota Children's Hospital performed an emergency delivery for his mother, Beth Hutchinson, after she experienced medical complications that led to preterm labor, resulting in Richard's birth 131 days before his expected due date.
Dr. Stacey Kern, a specialist in neonatal medicine, stated, "We told the baby's parents that Richard had a zero percent chance of survival, and I knew the coming weeks would be incredibly tough, but if he could get through them, he would have a chance at life." Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard's parents were unable to stay with him in the hospital, forcing them to travel a long distance daily from their home to see their little one and ensure his well-being.
His father, Rick, told the Guinness World Records, "We made sure to be there every day to support him... I think this helped him through the tough days because he knew he could rely on us." In December 2020, after spending more than six months in the hospital, Richard was able to return home with his family. His mother described that day as special as she held her baby with tears of joy in her eyes. She added, "I couldn't believe he was the same little boy who was once so sick that I feared he wouldn't survive. I couldn't believe he was the same baby who was smaller than the palm of my hand and whose skin was so transparent that you could see his internal organs."
On June 5, Richard celebrated his first birthday surrounded by family and their three dogs. Regarding Richard entering the Guinness World Records, Beth said, "I can hardly believe it; we are still in a state of amazement, but we are happy, and I think that having him hold a record is the best way to celebrate his birthday and an opportunity to raise awareness about the risks of premature births."
