Micro-preemie home after 16 months in hospital: ‘He’s a miracle baby’

A little boy who spent the first 16 months of his life in the hospital recently reached a big milestone — he was able to go home with his family.

Greyson Butler was born on June 27, 2022, 16 weeks before his due date, weighing just one pound, two ounces.

“I was instantly worried, but I didn’t know that this journey was going to be this long,” his mother, Monae Harper told CBS News New York. “Even when we held him, we were so scared because it looked like he was going to break. He was so delicate.”

“When he was born I was afraid to hold him. He was so small, he was one pound, two ounces, he was a micro preemie,” Greyson’s father Jeffrey Butler told ABC 7.

Baby born premature finally leaves Blythedale Children's Hospital after 490 days

Greyson faced a host of medical challenges early on, including a congenital heart disease and a chronic lung disease. He needed 15 blood transfusions, had two surgeries, and experienced pneumonia five times.

“When they say roller coaster, they mean it,” Monae said. “Many days are so good, but a lot of days are stomach-crunching and you can’t even hold your head up. I knew it was a long roller coaster, but I didn’t know it was going to be this long.”

“We have our family and our friends that have been by our side since day one, never gave up on us,” she added.

Now weighing 20 pounds, Greyson is all smiles. “I come in the morning and I know he’s ok because if I tickle him, he rolls around laughing and he throws a towel over his head,” said Dr. Dennis Davidson of Blythedale Children’s Hospital.

Doctors say Greyson’s long-term prognosis is looking good.

“He was a fighter, he fought this whole way,” Monae said.

“A lot of sleepless nights, a lot of tears, a lot of prayers, a lot of cries,” she added about their time in the hospital. “Overall, a lot of smiles because my son is here right now. He’s a miracle baby.”

“I think it’s a story of a miracle,” added Jeffrey. “He never stopped fighting. There’s a lot of situations I’ve been through that I wanted to just throw in the towel and I’m like if he could — he’s here every day, he never stops fighting — then what am I gonna stop fighting for?”