No one had bet on his survival. But on June 5 Richard Scott William Hutchinson, born five months early, recognized by Guinness World Records as the most premature baby of the world, celebrated its first birthday.
Mom, Beth Hutchinson, suffered from complications that drastically anticipated labor. Richard was born in the hospital Children’s Minnesota of Minneapolis, 131 days ahead of schedule. It barely weighed 337 grams: it was so small that its parents could hold it in the palm of their hand.
“When his parents, Rick and Beth, received prenatal counseling on what to expect from a baby born so early, our neonatology team gave them the 0% chance of survivalAdmitted Dr. Stacy Kern, a neonatologist of the Children’s Minnesota. “I knew that the first few weeks of Richard’s life were going to be very difficult, but I felt that if he could make it, he would be a survivor.”
Due to the pandemic, Richard’s parents were unable to stay overnight with him in the hospital, and neither were his other family members able to visit him. But Rick and Beth visited him every day. “We made sure we were there to support him,” dad explained to Guinness World Records. “I think this helped him get over the situation: he knew he could count on us».
In December 2020, after more than six months in the hospital, Richard was discharged from the ICU and was able to return home with his family. “That day was special,” says the neonatologist. “I remember taking it from the crib and holding it in my arms with tears in my eyes. I couldn’t believe it was the same baby who was so sick months ago, that I was afraid he could not survive. The same child who once entered the palm of my hand, with the skin so translucent that I could see every rib and blood vessel of his little body. I couldn’t help but hold him and tell him how proud I was of him. “
The little boy celebrated his first birthday surrounded by his family and his three dogs. “It doesn’t seem real,” Mom commented. “We are still surprised. But we are happy».
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