U.S. boy Curtis Means weighed a measly 420 grams when he was born back in July of 2020. That's because he was delivered at just 21 weeks and a day – 132 days premature, to be exact.
Now absolutely thriving at 16 months old, little Curtis has officially been certified as the world's most premature baby to survive by Guinness World Records.
Turning Independence Day into 'Labor' Day.
Curtis' mother, Michelle Butler, fell into labor and was rushed to hospital on the night of July 4, 2020 – Independence Day in the U.S. Around lunchtime the next day, Curtis and his twin sister C'Asya were born.
IMAGE: Guinness World Records
However, due to complications associated with such a premature birth, C'Asya unfortunately passed away the next day. As the only child left, Curtis' chances of survival were extremely slim, at less than one percent.
Still, Curtis kept fighting for his life. After 275 days in hospital, Curtis was taken off the ventilator and discharged in April 2021.
While in hospital all those months, Curtis had to be taught how to breathe and use his mouth to eat.
IMAGE: University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital / New York Post
He eventually survived to become the 16-month-old he is now, having celebrated his first birthday on July 5, 2021.
"Being able to finally take Curtis home and surprise my older children with their younger brother is a moment I will always remember," says Michelle.
Born a fighter.
Though Curtis still requires supplemental oxygen and a feeding tube, the doctors who treated him say the little boy's in good health.
IMAGE: University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital / New York Post
“I’ve been doing this almost 20 years, but I’ve never seen a baby this young be as strong as he was. There was something special about Curtis,” said Dr Brian Sims, the neonatologist who oversaw the delivery.
Another doctor, Colm Travers, was the first person to suspect that Curtis' gestational age was worthy of a Guinness World Record.
“The first thing that struck me when I saw Curtis was how tiny he was, how fragile his skin was. I was amazed at such a young age that he was alive and that he was responding to the treatments,” Travers told Guinness World Records.
IMAGE: University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital / New York Post
“Initially, Curtis was on a lot of breathing support and medication for his heart and lungs to keep him alive. Then over the next several weeks, we were able to decrease the amount of support. When he was about three months old, we were finally able to take him off the ventilator. That was a special moment for me."
The previous record for most premature baby belonged to Richard Hutchinson, who was born 131 days premature on June 5, 2020. Before him, that record remained intact for 34 years with James Elgin Gill, born 128 days premature in Ottawa, Canada on May 20, 1987.
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Cover image sourced from Guinness World Records and University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital / New York Post.
