Michelle Butler of Eutaw, Ala., and son Curtis Means in Birmingham, Ala. The kid has been licensed by Guinness World Data because the world’s most untimely child to outlive.
Andrea Mabry/UAB College Relations through AP
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Andrea Mabry/UAB College Relations through AP
Michelle Butler of Eutaw, Ala., and son Curtis Means in Birmingham, Ala. The kid has been licensed by Guinness World Data because the world’s most untimely child to outlive.
Andrea Mabry/UAB College Relations through AP
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama boy who weighed lower than a pound at delivery after his mom went into labor at solely 21 weeks and at some point of gestation has been licensed because the world’s most untimely child to outlive.
Guinness World Data and UAB Hospital introduced Wednesday that Curtis Means, who weighed solely 14.8 ounces at delivery, set the brand new file. Born 132 days untimely on July 5, 2020 with a twin who did not survive, Curtis is now wholesome and 16 months outdated.
Dr. Brian Sims, who was the attending doctor, mentioned statistics present that kids born so younger have nearly no likelihood of survival, however Curtis beat the chances.
Curtis Means at UAB Hospital Birmingham, Ala.
Michelle Butler/UAB College Relations through AP
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Michelle Butler/UAB College Relations through AP
Curtis Means at UAB Hospital Birmingham, Ala.
Michelle Butler/UAB College Relations through AP
“We sometimes advise for compassionate care in conditions of such extraordinarily preterm births,” Sims mentioned in a press release from the College of Alabama at Birmingham, which operates the hospital. “This enables the mother and father to carry their infants and cherish what little time they might have collectively.”
As a substitute, Curtis grew stronger and stronger and was discharged after 275 days within the hospital. He wanted assist from therapists to start utilizing his mouth and consuming.
“Having the ability to lastly take Curtis residence and shock my older kids with their youthful brother is a second I’ll at all times keep in mind,” mom Michelle Butler of rural Eutaw, Alabama, mentioned in a press release.
A fetus is taken into account full time period at 40 weeks, however Butler went into labor after carrying twins simply over half that size of time. She was transferred to UAB Hospital, which has a regional neonatal intensive care unit, the place she gave delivery to Curtis and C’Asya.
C’Asya died a day later, however Curtis was capable of come off a ventilator after three months. Following months of round the clock care, he went residence in April.
Whereas Curtis nonetheless wants a feeding tube and supplemental oxygen as a result of he was so untimely, Sims mentioned he is in good well being contemplating how early he was born.
“We have no idea what all the longer term will maintain for Curtis since there is no such thing as a one else like him,” Sims mentioned. “He began writing his personal story the day he was born. That story will likely be learn and studied by many and, hopefully, will assist enhance care of untimely infants all over the world.”
Guinness mentioned Curtis beat by a day the earlier file, which held for less than a month. Richard Hutchinson, from Wisconsin, was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks, 2 days in June 2020.
