Defying the Odds: Meet these preemies who survived birth at 21 weeks

Historically, 24 weeks was considered the point of "viability" — the time at which a child could potentially survive outside the womb. Now, thanks to incredible advancements in medical technology, that threshold has moved, and the number of babies who survive birth as young as 21 weeks continues to grow.

Key Takeaways:

• Babies as young as 21 weeks have survived outside the womb, and Live Action News has shared many of their stories.

• These babies have survived thanks to great advancements in medical technology, and, often, the advocacy of their parents who want to give them a chance at life.

• More awareness is needed, as most doctors and hospitals still refuse to treat children born so early, and some state abortion laws still consider the long-outdated threshold of 24 weeks to be the point of 'viability'.

The Details:

Live Action News has reported on some of the youngest babies ever born. Here are some of their remarkable stories:

Nash

Nash was named by Guinness World Records as the youngest-ever preemie to survive after his birth at exactly 21 weeks of gestation on July 5, 2024. He was born just 10 hours after his mother, Mollie, crossed the 21 week threshold with her pregnancy, after she was told that doctors would not attempt to save her son had she not reached the 21 week mark. 

In all, Nash spent 182 days in the NICU before being discharged to go home with his family.

“He’s just a happy kid,” Mollie said. “He’s truly the best thing that ever happened to us.”

Curtis

When Curtis Means was born at 21 weeks and one day in 2021, he weighed just 14.8 oz, and doctors gave him a one percent chance of survival.

Curtis's mom, Michelle “Chelly” Butler, was told that the hospital typically offered "compassionate care" for babies born as young as Curtis, but she asked, "Can we give my babies a chance?'”

Though Curtis's twin, C’Asya, sadly did not make it, Curtis defied the odds — thanks, in part, to his mom's insistence that he be given a chance at life.

His birth earned him the spot as the youngest preemie to survive until Guinness named baby Nash as the record holder in 2024.

Jemarius

Though he wasn't mentioned by Guinness, Jemarius Harbor was also born at just 21 weeks gestation in December 2019, at that time becoming the youngest surviving preemie in the world.

His parents, Jessica McPherson and Jemarius Harbor Sr., recounted asking doctors to try and save their son, even if it seemed impossible.

“We looked at each other in the eye and I told [the doctor] just give it a try,” McPherson said. “I just want you to try. As long as you try, that’s all that matters to me. Don’t just up and say that you can’t do it. Just ‘cause you haven’t done it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

At the time of his birth, Jemarius weighed just 13 ounces; though his parents were told that his survival “would be [nothing] short of a miracle,” he defied the odds.

Lyla

Lyla Stensrud was born on July 11, 2014, when she was 21 weeks gestation. At the time of her birth, she was called the youngest baby ever to survive. Her mother, Courtney Stensrud, felt it important to share Lyla's story in order to give other parents in similar situations encouragement to advocate for their children.

“There are those moms out there that aren’t give the opportunity,” she said at the time. “The doctors say, ‘No’ without looking at the child. ‘We are not going to do this.’ I think it is unfortunate and it needs to change.”

Richard

When Richard's Hutchinson's mother was 21 weeks and two days into her pregnancy, she unexpectedly went into labor on June 5, 2020. Richard was born weighing just under one pound.

“When he was born, they gave him zero percent chance of survival,” said his father. However, after six months in the hospital, he was able to join his family at home.

Ellie

Eliora “Ellie” Schneider was born at 21 weeks and six days, weighing little more than a can of Coke at 14 ounces. She overcame the odds thanks to a specialized team at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

“The fact that she’s alive and has as few complications as she does is a miracle,” her mother, Robin Schneider said. “There’s no other way around it. Whether or not you believe in God — it’s a miracle. She should not be here… and she needs to know that. That she has a special calling on her life.”

Marz

Marz was born at 21 weeks on June 9, 2023, weighing one pound, one ounce. She received specialized care at the Level IV NICU at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, California, and after four and a half months, she was able to go home with her parents.

“Marz has taught us how fragile life is," her mom, Sherrye, said. "Our trust in God… has grown.”

Zoom In:

Sadly, some doctors and hospitals assume that a child born before 24 weeks won't survive, so they don't attempt any life-saving measures (a scenario tragically experienced by this mother).

In the UK, for instance, national guidelines only recommend that life-saving treatment be provided to preemies born at or after 22 weeks gestation, meaning preemies like the 21-weekers featured here likely would have been refused care.

Additionally, many states base their abortion laws around the 24 week point of "viability," with abortion allowed up until that point for any reason — despite the fact that the child inside the womb is capable of surviving outside it. The 24-week threshold is outdated, and babies are likely dying because of its widespread acceptance.

The Bottom Line:

As these survivors show, preemies have a chance to survive outside the womb at an incredibly early age if they are given medical care. Unfortunately, this survival often depends in part on advocacy from the parents, who must insist that the premature baby be given a chance.

The organization TwentyTwoMatters has created a global map of hospitals that are willing to help premature babies as young as 22 weeks, though as these stories show, some babies survive even earlier births.