Nash Keen, the baby hailed by Guinness World Records as the world's most premature surviving baby, has turned two years old.

Key Takeaways:

• Nash Keen was born in 2024 at exactly 21 weeks gestation.

• He was given the title of the world's most premature surviving baby by Guinness World Records.

• He recently turned two, and his mom said he is thriving.

• Doctors have said that thanks to Nash's success and other medical advancements, other 21-week preemies have survived.

The Backstory:

Nash Keen was born at exactly 21 weeks gestation — 133 days premature — on July 5, 2024. At his birth, he weighed just 10 ounces and measured 9.5 inches long. After six months in the NICU, he was discharged to his family, and has since continued to grow and thrive.

His early arrival and survival earned him the title of the Guinness World Record (GWR) holder as the world's most premature surviving baby.

World's Most Premature Baby | Guinness World Records

The Details:

Nash recently celebrated his second birthday. His mom, Mollie Keen, said he is thriving.

“Nash is doing absolutely incredible and making us so incredibly proud!” she told GWR. “Just by looking at him, you’d never guess that he was born at 21 weeks’ gestation. Today, he weighs a healthy 25 lb [11.3 kg] and is tracking right in line with full-term babies on the standard growth charts."

She told GWR he's had a number of huge milestones developmentally, but still has occasional health challenges.

"I’ve learned to just enjoy Nash for exactly who he is, meet him wherever he is at on any given day, and fully believe that he will get there eventually — and honestly, if he doesn’t, that is completely okay too," she said.

“For other micro-preemie parents, my biggest piece of advice is to remember that the journey isn’t over just because you left the hospital. Expect the challenges, because they will come, but don’t let them steal the joy of the victories.”

Zoom In:

Doctors at University of Iowa Health Care, where Nash was born, have called the little boy a "pioneer," crediting him for paving the way for other successful survival stories for micro-preemies born at 21 weeks.

“Nash, in many respects, is the pioneer for infants born at 21 weeks gestational age,” said Dr. Patrick McNamara, a University of Iowa professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology. “And our mission is to help these tiny babies survive not just in Iowa, but all over the world.”

The Bottom Line:

Nash's survival is a testament that babies have the potential to thrive and survive, even in unprecedented situations.

“I love that Nash is paving the way for more babies to be saved and I’ve heard from so many 21-22 week moms who have reached out to me for support and I love that they’re reaching out to me and that Nash is giving them hope," Mollie Keen said. "That means more to me than anything."