World’s Most Premature Baby Nash Keen Defies Odds to Celebrate First Birthday

In an extraordinary tale of resilience, an Iowa family has just celebrated a monumental milestone as their son, Nash Keen, reached his first birthday. Born at a mere 21 weeks gestation on July 5, 2024—133 days premature—Nash has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most premature baby to survive. Weighing just 285 grams (10 ounces) at birth, less than a grapefruit, this little fighter has defied every medical odd stacked against him.

Nash, affectionately dubbed 'Nash Potato,' entered the world under the vigilant care of the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. His parents, Mollie and Randall Keen, had faced heartbreak before, losing a daughter at 18 weeks due to Mollie’s diagnosis of an incompetent cervix—a condition that causes premature dilation. Coupled with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), their journey to parenthood was fraught with challenges. Yet, when early dilation was detected during a routine scan with Nash, the couple braced for the worst, only to witness a miracle unfold.

The hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team played a pivotal role, delaying labor just past the critical 21-week mark and providing immediate interventions to support Nash’s fragile organs. Despite the grim statistics—where survival rates at such prematurity are dishearteningly low and long-term complications loom large—the team’s dedication shone through. 'Sometimes, babies this young are just too small for our tiniest equipment,' noted a neonatologist involved in Nash’s care, marveling at how they managed to stabilize him.

After 198 grueling days in the hospital, including surgery for a life-threatening perforated bowel, Nash finally went home in January 2025. Though he faces ongoing health hurdles like a minor heart defect and developmental delays, his progress with therapy is heartening. His mother dreams of a future where Nash’s extraordinary beginnings are just a footnote, not a definition, hoping that by kindergarten, no one will guess the odds he overcame.

This story isn’t just about survival; it’s a testament to hope, medical innovation, and unyielding parental love. Nash’s journey reminds us that even in the face of near-impossible challenges, the human spirit—and a tiny heartbeat—can prevail.