World's Most Premature Infant With 0% Chance Of Survival Celebrates First Birthday

Jun 21, 2021 by apost team

Sometimes babies are born prematurely and when that occurs it can happen that they have to stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital instead of going home with their parents. But while some babies are born weeks prematurely, one infant by the name of Richard Scott William Hutchinson was born a massive five months premature! The reason was due to medical complications that caused his mother Beth Hutchinson to go into labor incredibly early.

Being born so early meant that doctors thought it was very likely that little Richard wouldn't make it. They even gave him a 0% chance of surviving. But against all of the odds, Richard — who was so little when he was born he could fit into a single palm of his parents' hands — made it through. 

Arriving an incredible 131 days before his expected due date, Richard weighed just 11.9 ounces when he was born at Minneapolis' Children's Minnesota hospital. He ended up spending six months in the hospital before he was able to go home in Dec. 2020.

Additionally, due to the pandemic, his parents weren't able to spend the night with him — nor were other family members allowed to visit — so instead, they visited him daily. Knowing they were there no doubt gave him the strength to survive, and now Richard celebrated his first birthday at home, surrounded by his loving parents and the family's dogs. And not only did he make it to his first birthday but the milestone meant that he became the most premature baby in the world to survive, according to Guinness World Records.

As you can imagine, when Beth and Rick Hutchinson were told their baby would be born so incredibly premature, they were shocked and very worried. Dr. Stacy Kern, who is Richard's neonatologist at the Children's Minnesota hospital, told Guinness World Records:

"When Rick and Beth received prenatal counselling on what to expect with a baby born so early, they were given a 0% chance of survival by our neonatology team."

Dr. Kern knew that the first weeks of the infant's life would be incredibly difficult but she "felt that if he could make it through that, he would be a survivor." Despite the limitations placed on visiting their son, Rick and Beth were by his side every day, traveling to Minneapolis from their home in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, as they knew it would have an impact on whether he made it or not. Rick told Guinness World Records: 

"We made sure we were there to give him support. I think that helped him get through this because he knew he could count on us."

Richard beat all of the odds stacked against him and he even made it home for Christmas when he left the hospital in Dec. 2020. Dr. Kern stated:

"The day Richard was discharged from the NICU was such a special day. I remember picking him up out of his crib and just holding him with tears in my eyes."

She added:

"I couldn't believe this was the same little boy that once was so sick, that I feared he may not survive. The same little boy that once fit in the palm of my hand, with skin so translucent that I could see every rib and vessel in his tiny body."

apost.com

What an incredible story of survival! Do you know any babies who were born very prematurely? Pass on Richard's story of survival so others can hear about it too!