Latest news with #medicalmiracle
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
World's most premature baby defies all medical odds to reach 1st birthday
An Iowa family recently celebrated a major milestone for a very special baby. Mollie and Randall Keen welcomed their son, Nash Keen, on July 5, 2024. He was born 133 days early, at just 21 weeks gestation. Guinness World Records has officially recognized Nash as the world's most premature baby to survive. Earlier this month, Nash — affectionately nicknamed "Nash Potato" — turned 1 year old, defying all odds. When he was born at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital, Nash weighed just 285 grams (10 ounces) at birth — less than a grapefruit — and measured 24 centimeters long, according to a press release from the hospital. Two years before Nash's premature birth, the Keens lost a baby girl, McKinley, at 18 weeks gestation. At that time, Mollie Keen was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix, which is when the lower part of the cervix begins to open (dilate) too early, typically in the second trimester, the release shared. She also suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that can cause fertility difficulties. Six months after their loss, the Keens found out another baby was on the way. "When we went to our local doctor's office for the 20-week scan for Nash, I just had some concerns about how I was feeling, so I asked them to look at me closer — which they normally don't do at that appointment — and they found I was already 2 centimeters dilated," Mollie Keen said. A few days later, she began having contractions and was placed on bed rest. "We were devastated," she said. "We thought we were going through the exact same thing — we thought we were going to lose this baby." The medical team at Stead Family Children's Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides life-saving care for babies born at 21 weeks gestation and later. Fortunately, Mollie's care team was able to delay labor until just 10 hours after Nash surpassed the 21-week mark. "We want what is best for patients, so we really try to convey that we do not know what the outcomes will be for these extremely premature births," said Malinda Schaefer, M.D., Ph.D., the high-risk obstetrician who delivered Nash. "It is important for parents to understand most survival rates are low, and if babies do survive, they have a very high risk of long-term complications, even at 22 weeks." The team quickly provided medicine to Nash to support his organ development and to reduce the risk of complications, according to the release. "Sometimes babies born at 21 weeks are just too small for even our tiniest breathing tubes and intravenous lines," said neonatologist Amy Stanford, who treated Nash. "Our NICU team assessed Nash, and I was able to place a breathing tube. Once we had the breathing tube in, his heart rate stabilized and his oxygen levels were good." Even so, Nash's chances were slim, as no baby that young had ever survived. Before Nash's birth, the most premature baby to survive was Curtis Zy-Keith Means, born to Michelle Butler on July 5, 2020, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, according to Guinness World Records. He was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks and 1 day, which was 132 days premature. "We never want the parents to lose hope, but many of them are in an unreal situation, so we have to be very honest with them," said Patrick McNamara, M.D., division director of neonatology at Stead Family Children's Hospital. "I would have told his parents, 'The chance is zero, but I hope I'm wrong, and we will do everything we can to help him.'" "I want him to see his story as a source of strength." Around the one-month mark, Stanford said, the team began to "breathe a little easier." "While we knew Nash still had a long journey ahead, that was the point when we started to feel more confident that he had a real chance of going home." "It was a subtle but powerful shift – from day-to-day survival to long-term hope." Nash received ongoing care during his 198 days in the hospital, as the team monitored his heart function and brain health. In addition to receiving many medications, he also underwent surgery for a perforated bowel, which has up to a 40% mortality rate. "They were on top of it every step of the way. They really gave him a fighting chance," said Randall Keen. "They were really honest with us during the whole journey about what his chances looked like. They made sure we were well-informed and kept us involved in all the decision-making." After more than six months in the hospital, Nash was finally able to go home in January 2025. He will continue to be monitored for ongoing health issues, including a minor heart defect, and is currently being weaned from oxygen. Nash is still on a feeding tube and wears hearing aids. Although he has had some developmental delays, Nash is getting stronger and more interactive with the help of ongoing therapy sessions, according to his mother. Stanford shared her ultimate goal for Nash — "that by the time he's 5 years old when he goes to kindergarten, no one will know that he was born so early." "Nash's remarkable outcome reflects the progress we've made by building on the experiences of those patients who came before him," she added. For more Health articles, visit Mollie Keen shared that she wants Nash to know how loved he is — and "how many people have cheered him on from the very beginning." "I want him to grow up and be healthy, happy and confident in who he is. I want him to see his story as a source of strength."
The Guardian
4 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
World's most premature baby celebrates first birthday
An Iowa toddler who was born when his mother was less than five months pregnant isn't only the most premature baby recognized by Guinness World Records after recently turning one. As his mother, Mollie Keen, put it, Nash Keen is also 'very determined, curious … and he's just all smiles all the time' after surviving against what Guinness described as 'phenomenal odds'. 'Nash is going to be able to … say, 'You know what? I came into this world fighting,'' the boy's father, Randall Keen, said in an interview that Guinness published on Wednesday. ''And I'm going to leave fighting.'' The organization's database of about 40,000 records has long inspired fascination from the public. And Nash's path to that database began on 5 July 2024, when he was born at the gestational age of exactly 21 weeks at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's hospital in Iowa City. Nash's birth came 133 days ahead of Mollie's expected due date, based on a typical full-term pregnancy of 280 days, an article on said. His birth was the second time in less than two years that Mollie had given birth prematurely. She recounted how she and Randall lost their daughter, McKinley, after she was born at a gestational age of nearly 18 weeks. After the couple became pregnant with Nash, 'we were so excited, but also very nervous', Mollie said. 'We didn't get our hopes up.' Nash weighed only 10 ounces (283 grams), which is about the size of a soap bar, when he was born. He had to spend the next six months in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before he was allowed to go home in January to Ankeny, Iowa. Mollie recalled to Guinness that she and Randall 'weren't sure if he'd even survive those first critical hours. But we wanted to give him the best chance.' The baby underwent 'highly specialized care, constant surveillance and frequent monitoring' while he faced a series of substantial 'challenges early on', Dr Amy Stanford – a neonatologist who helped care for Nash – told Guinness. Yet 'he showed remarkable resilience', Stanford added. 'After those first few extremely delicate weeks, he began to make steady progress, which was truly extraordinary to witness.' As the Associated Press noted, Nash's story illustrates the growing number of extremely premature infants who are receiving life-saving treatment and surviving. Nash emerged from his NICU stay with as good an outcome as could be hoped for by medical science, as his doctors see it. At just over a year old, Nash still required oxygen to help him breathe, and he was nourished exclusively through a feeding tube. His parents had been preparing for him to try pureed foods. Nash's doctors were optimistic that a minor heart defect would resolve itself as he grew up. And he was not quite yet crawling, though he had started rolling over. None of those developmental realities had barred him from demonstrating his budding personality, Randall told Guinness. 'Whenever you call him 'Nash potato', or you cheer him on when he's trying to pull himself up … he just hams it up,' Randall said. 'It makes him want to succeed and do more.' A small gathering of close friends joined Nash and his family to celebrate his first birthday. He was feted with new outfits, educational toys, diapers and the certificate from Guinness – now that he had beaten out by a single day the organization's previous most premature baby record holder, who was born in 2020 in Alabama. Mollie told Guinness she and Randall are as happy as Nash has been. 'I love waking up to him,' she remarked. 'He's truly … the best thing that could have happened to us.' The Associated Press contributed reporting
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
World's most premature baby celebrates first birthday
An Iowa toddler who was born when his mother was less than five months pregnant isn't only the most premature baby recognized by Guinness World Records after recently turning one. As his mother, Mollie Keen, put it, Nash Keen is also 'very determined, curious … and he's just all smiles all the time' after surviving against what Guinness described as 'phenomenal odds'. 'Nash is going to be able to … say, 'You know what? I came into this world fighting,'' the boy's father, Randall Keen, said in an interview that Guinness published Wednesday. ''And I'm going to leave fighting.'' The organization's database of about 40,000 records has long inspired fascination from the public. And Nash's path to that database began on 5 July 2024, when he was born at the gestational age of exactly 21 weeks in the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's hospital in Iowa City. Nash's birth came 133 days ahead of Mollie's expected due date, based on a typical full-term pregnancy of 280 days, an article on said. His birth was the second time in less than two years that Mollie had given birth prematurely. She recounted how she and Randall lost their daughter, McKinley, after she was born at a gestational age of nearly 18 weeks. After the couple became pregnant with Nash, 'we were so excited, but also very nervous,' Mollie said. 'We didn't get our hopes up.' Nash weighed only 10 ounces (283 grams), which is about the size of a soap bar, when he was born. He had to spend the next six months in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before he was allowed to go home in January to Ankeny, Iowa. Mollie recalled to Guinness that she and Randall 'weren't sure if he'd even survive those first critical hours. But we wanted to give him the best chance.' The baby underwent 'highly specialized care, constant surveillance and frequent monitoring' while he faced a series of substantial 'challenges early on', Dr Amy Stanford – a neonatologist who helped care for Nash – told Guinness. Yet 'he showed remarkable resilience,' Stanford added. 'After those first few extremely delicate weeks, he began to make steady progress, which was truly extraordinary to witness.' As the Associated Press noted, Nash's story illustrates the growing number of extremely premature infants who are receiving life-saving treatment and surviving. Nash emerged from his NICU stay with as good an outcome as could be hoped for by medical science, as his doctors see it. At just over a year old, Nash still required oxygen to help him breathe, and he was nourished exclusively through a feeding tube. His parents had been preparing for him to try pureed foods. Nash's doctors were optimistic that a minor heart defect would resolve itself as he grew up. And he was not quite yet crawling, though he had started rolling over. None of those developmental realities had barred him from demonstrating his budding personality, Randall told Guinness. 'Whenever you call him 'Nash potato', or you cheer him on when he's trying to pull himself up … he just hams it up,' Randall said. 'It makes him want to succeed and do more.' A small gathering of family close friends joined Nash and his family to celebrate his first birthday. He was feted with new outfits, educational toys, diapers and the certificate from Guinness – now that he had beaten out by a single day the organization's previous most premature baby record holder, who was born in 2020 in Alabama. Mollie told Guinness she and Randall are as happy as Nash has been. 'I love waking up to him,' she remarked. 'He's truly … the best thing that could have happened to us.' AP contributed reporting
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Miracle' five years since twins' Covid coma birth
A doctor whose twins were delivered prematurely while she was in a coma says the five years since have been like a series of "miracles unfolding". Dr Perpetual Uke, a rheumatology consultant at Birmingham City Hospital, was placed into an induced coma after catching Covid-19 before her twins were delivered by Caesarean section at 26 weeks on 10 April 2020. She came around 16 days later, convinced her twins were dead, before hospital staff told her they were alive. The twins turned five years old in April and both have learned to walk and talk, which Dr Uke said was something she "cherished". "I just hope for the best because everything about it has been miracles unfolding, just like how you turn the pages of your book," she said. Dr Uke said she was at high-risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid but continued to work during the pandemic because she felt a duty of care to her patients. After catching the disease, Dr Uke was admitted to the hospital's critical care unit, placed on a ventilator and put in an induced coma to help her recover. When they were born, her daughter weighed just 770g (27oz) while her brother, weighed 850g (30oz). Dr Uke's husband Matthew said he had conflicting emotions when his children were born. "If the twins are there - where is my wife? Because by then, it was not certain she was going to come out of her coma," he said. "Am I going to have to care for the twins alone? It was a very difficult moment." Dr Uke recalled the "surreal" experience of waking and how she found it difficult to believe her children were alive, until she saw them for the first time. Despite what her husband described as the "grind" of the past five years, Dr Uke said her outlook had become more positive. "We are very glad, happy and joyous because of what they've achieved and are going to achieve in the future," she said. Mr Uke described 2020 as like "being in a dark moment" and 2025 was "like being in the sunshine". "We are very happy and we're very thankful to the NHS, to all the people who cared for them and that continue to care for them," he said. "They're wonderful. Their dedication and passion are off the charts. All the people who work in the NHS - they are special." Dr Uke has since written a book about the family's story called Covid Coma to Twin Birth: Threads of Miracles, which she hoped would help others going through difficult times. "If you have ever, in any situation in your life, felt the weight of the unknown in a difficult moment, just hold on to hope," she said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Pregnant doctor felt 'duty of care' during pandemic Twins born to Covid-19 coma patient turn one Twins born to Covid-19 patient in coma Related internet links Birmingham Women's Hospital
Fox News
03-06-2025
- General
- Fox News
Woman declared dead by coroner, moved to coffin, turns out to be alive
A woman declared dead by the coroner after her husband found her unresponsive in bed was being placed in a coffin when morticians made a startling discovery — she was very much alive. The horrifying tale from the Czech Republic unfolded when an 88-year-old woman, who was thought to be dead, showed signs of life in her coffin. According to the husband of the woman thought to be deceased called the Pilsen emergency services to potentially help his wife. The husband told the emergency dispatch that "she didn't move, she didn't breathe," according to the report. When paramedics arrived, they confirmed the woman's death and the coroners were dispatched to the apartment. The coroner also confirmed the woman's death and undertakers were called to move the body into the coffin. The husband also told Blesk that "the workers transferred her to the coffin, and when they were right here in the apartment in the hallway by the door, they found out she was alive." An ambulance arrived shortly after, and the woman was transported to the hospital. While this may seem like something out of a horror story, this rare medical occurrence has happened before. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it's known as the Lazarus Effect. Named after the biblical story of Jesus raising Lazarus back from the dead, this usually occurs after CPR ends. Typically, this happens after a cardiac arrest occurs and CPR is administered to the patient. This medical phenomenon occurs after the patient is clinically pronounced dead. Some time later, the patient will begin to show signs of life and must continue to show these signs for more than a few seconds. According to the National Institutes of Health, there have been 74 confirmed cases in the U.S. from 1982-2022. It is still unknown how or why the Lazarus Effect happens.
