GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), Worlds most premature baby, given 0% odds of survival, celebrates first birthday, The people with the worlds longest nails and why they grow them, Egyptian siblings claim five records including largest feet and hands, UK couple break greatest height difference record with almost 2ft between them, Tales of the tallest men in the world and why they reach such heights, A nail-biting encounter with the woman who has the longest fingernails, How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. The medical professionals who cared for the baby at the hospital had to improvise when taking care of Yu Xuan as many of their normal tools and techniques were too big for the baby's small body. Rumaisa had laser eye surgery for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and wears glasses. ", He is a very happy baby. After a bit of research, she learned Richard was indeed the world's most premature baby, beating out a record that stood for nearly four decades. We were determined to see him go home., Curtis was discharged from the hospital on April 6, 2021. She and her partner Sam MacLennan named him Sam. "Ive been doing this almost 20 years but Ive never seen a baby this young be as strong as he was There was something special about Curtis.". Born at just 21 weeks and weighing less than a pound, doctors at Children's Minnesota in Minneapolis gave Richard a 0% chance of survival. James Elgin Gill, born in 1987 in Canada was the earliest premature birth in the world - being born 128 days early at 21 weeks, 5 days gestation, and weighing 1lb 6oz. N Engl J Med. Amazingly, Curtis was delivered exactly one month after the previous record holder, Richard Hutchinson from Wisconsin, who was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks 2 days, or 131 days premature on 5 June 2020. Im tired already!" Before meeting with a consultant, she says the staff member suggested that she asked for a surgical procedure, known as a cervical stitch. CAsya, however, did not respond to the treatment and passed away a day after her birth. Gill's record stood for over 30 . A recent study found that more and more babies were surviving at 23 weeks, and a study before that found that babies as young as 22 weeks could survive with proper treatment. According to our records, James Elgin Gill is possibly single . You know in the back of your mind that his odds weren't great.". But Linzi says that a chance conversation with a member of the maternity unit staff at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness saved her son's life. 0:00. Rumasia's twin sister Hiba was more than twice her size, at 1 pound 4 ounces and 12 inches long. James Elgin Gill was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 20, 1987, around 128 days early or 21 weeks gestation. What makes a Guinness World Records title? She was 9.8 inches long. Guinness World Records - The most premature baby to survive is Curtis Zy-Keith Means (U.S.A.) who was born to Michelle Butler on 5 July 2020 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital in Alabama, U.S.A. at a gestational age of 21 weeks 1 day or 148 days, making him 132 days premature. That child, James Elgin Gill, previously held the world record that now belongs to. He survived and continued to thrive, becoming a highly educated professional at the age of 30. Guinness says Richard was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks 2 days, making him 131 days premature. "Tom" was delivered in June 2009 at 25 weeks gestation. I couldnt help but squeeze him and tell him how proud I was of him. It can't have any legal rights of its own until it's been born and has a separate existence from the mother. James' eyes were still fused shut." Then I found this: Moorhead J. And before Richard, the record had remained unbroken for 34 years. Lawn JE, Davidge R, Paul VK, et al. Andrea Rice is an award-winning journalist and a freelance writer, editor, and fact-checker specializing in health and wellness. He was born 5-month premature to Beth Hutchinson and weighed less than half a kilogram.The baby was so small that he could fit into the palm of a hand. Guinness says he was born at 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature, on May 20 . The youngest age for a baby to survive is 21 weeks and five days, and that record is shared by Frieda Mangold of Germany, and James Elgin Gill of Canada. He was called the 'miracle baby' when he was there. The previous record-holder was James Elgin Gill of Canada, who was born 128 days premature and weighing 21.84 ounces. James Elgin Gill: The record for the world's most premature baby belongs to James Elgin Gill, a Canadian man born at just 21 weeks 5 days in 1988. In early December 2020, after more than half a year at the NICU, he was given the all-clear to leave the hospital and head home. James Elgin Gill was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 20, 1987, at 21 weeks. It was a difficult journey, but I am grateful for the UAB team and their constant support. The infant girl, who wasn't named because of family wishes, weighed less than a pound (410 grams), when . "I think we both worried," said Beth. Reprod Health. At 24 weeks the survival rate goes up to 40-70 per cent. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Approach to infants born at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation: Relationship to outcomes of more-mature infants. Answer: Since our goal in the NICU is to return EVERY admitted baby to their home everything we do is a step closer to achieving that goal. Born at just 21 weeks, one day (148 days) at around 1 pm on July 5 last year; Curtis weighed less than a pound. The law In certain US states, you can't call a baby a baby until 20 weeks gestation "Having this record is a blessing that he has accomplished and Im thankful that [Guinness World Records] accepted him.". "Im very proud of him because where he came from and where he at now, I can tell the difference. Hall A. Tiniest surviving preemie released from hospital. James was born to Brenda and James Gill in Ottawa at a gestational age of 21 weeks . They shouldn't take no for an answer. 6oz) at birth, James Elgin Gill was born on the 20th May 1987 to Brenda and Jim, only 21 weeks into their pregnancy. Premature baby 'Tom Thumb' born at 25 weeks weighing half a pound survives. It takes a village to care for and support these babies until the time they are ready to go home. Perhaps even more incredible, though, is that prior to Richard, this record had remained unbroken for 34 years. Hutchinson's parents fought hard to see their son survive the odds. On May 20, 1987, James Elgin Gill was born in Canad, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature. James Elgin Gill born at 21 weeks and 5 days gestation in Canada officially became the earliest premature baby born in 1987. "I was eventually given another consultant and the stitch was put in place.". Little Frieda was born on. Now, Hutchinson has broken the Guinness record to become the world's premature baby to survive. Numbers show that babies born so young have little to no chances of survival, Brian Sims, MD, the attending physician and professor of pediatrics in the UAB Division of Neonatology, said in a statement. He is now at college . 20 James was born so early that he was expected to die at birth orif he survivedto have multiple and severe handicaps. He spent 275 days in the hospital, where he was removed from a ventilator after three months and discharged in April. We'll use the information you provide us to contact you via email about our relevant content, products and services. "It doesnt feel real," admitted Beth, when asked how it feels to have broken such a long-unchallenged record. Cheryl Bird, RN, BSN, is a registered nurse in a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Los Angeles Times. Select your child's age in months to begin tracking their development. "His birthday was a blast we just had family over and had cake and ice cream. And now he resides in a . "We're still surprised about it. ABC News. He set a record when he was born for world's most premature baby - and beat all the odds, growing into a healthy adult. I was told that because my cervix was opening my baby was not viable. After 275 days (about nine months) of being looked after by a huge team at the RNICU and the wider Women and Infants Center, it was determined that Curtis was fit enough to go home on 6 April 2021. Report a typo Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Weighing a mere 340 g (11.9 oz) about the same as a can of soup, or one-tenth of the average weight for a full-term newborn the initial prognosis for Richard Scott William Hutchinson was far from optimistic. Over here, a foetus is not a considered person with rights in the eyes of the law until birth. Read more life stories: 2012;9:28. doi:10.1186/1742-4755-9-28, Brazier M, Archard D. Letting babies die. For specialist treatment, Ms Mcmillan was moved to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital where she went on to deliver a small but healthy 2lbs 2oz baby boy on June 10. Before meeting with a consultant, she says the staff member suggested that she asked for a surgical procedure, known as a cervical stitch. "We love the staff that took care of our son, and wish we could share him with them all the time. The stories of these preemies may give you hope or solace if you have a pre-term infant or are a risk for pre-term labor and delivery. I feel so blessed and honoured that I was the neonatologist on service the week Richard was born. But that doesn't mean babies born earlier than that won't survive. 2012;129(6):e1508-16. TIME. James Elgin Gill was born to Brenda and James Gill (all Canada) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 5 days, or 128 days premature, on 20 May 1987. Much of his body was still developing, including his skin, hands, ears, and feet. This is what makes Curtis recovery all the more exceptional. They. Doctors expected the baby to weigh around 1.5 pounds. He was born at just 21 weeks and one day. ", Rick and Beth fought for Richard day after day and never stopped advocating for their baby through it all. Receive the latest and trending news alerts on the go. Similarly, Amillia Taylor was born at just under 22 weeks in October 2006. That story will be read and studied by many and, hopefully, will help improve care of premature infants around the world.. Six months after Curtis was discharged, on November 10, his care team at UAB surprised Butler and Curtis with a certificate from Guinness World Records citing Curtis as the worlds most premature baby to survive. Of those that are born before 28 weeks, many do not survive. To put her tiny size in perspective, she weighed about as much as a large apple. The Guinness World Record began taking a record of premature babies in 1987 when James Elgin Gill was born in Canada at 128 days premature or at 21 weeks and five days of gestational age. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Kenna Moore was smaller than a soda can when she was born on January 9, 2012, at 9.6 ounces. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Andrea Mabry/University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. Before Richard became the record holder, James Elgin Gill of Ottawa held the record for three-and-a-half decades. Curtis, or "Poodie" as his family also call him, celebrated his first birthday on 5 July 2021. The octuplets are now in sixth grade. Melinda was born at 24 weeks because her mom had developed high blood pressure during her pregnancy. This story has been shared 133,541 times. 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