“Nash is pure joy in a tiny package”: Most premature baby born 19 weeks early turns one

The first birthday of any child is always special – but for Mollie and Randall Keen, the occasion was even more momentous than most.

That’s because their son, Nash (affectionately known as “Nash Potato”) – who they describe as “determined, curious and the happiest baby you’ll meet” – survived against phenomenal odds to reach this milestone.

On 5 July 2024, he was delivered at a gestational age of exactly 21 weeks, a staggering 133 days earlier than the expected due date based on a typical full-term pregnancy (280 days). This means that Nash, on turning one this month, has now been recognized as the most premature baby.

Nash’s mother, Mollie, is still grappling with what has been a whirlwind 12 months: “It feels surreal, honestly. A year ago, we weren’t sure what the future would look like, and now we’ve celebrated his first birthday.

“It’s emotional in so many ways: pride, gratitude, even some grief for how different his journey has been. But above all, it feels like a victory.”

The Keen family saw in Nash’s big day in their home city of Ankeny, Iowa, joined by a small gathering of family and close friends. Gifts for the birthday boy included 70 new outfits, educational toys and a mountain of diapers (“Lord knows we need lots of those!” joked Mollie). Nash even got special dispensation from his doctors to have some cake with extra whipped cream, given it was such a special occasion.

A year earlier, Nash was delivered at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City by Drs Malinda Schaefer and H Bennett Stevens, attended by neonatologist Dr Amy Stanford, who supervised Nash’s resuscitation. On arrival, he weighed merely 285 g (10 oz) – less than a grapefruit– and measured just 24 cm (9.5 in) long.

Nash had to be immediately rushed to the hospital’s Level IV NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), which prides itself on being one of the most advanced of its kind in the country, if not the world.

For any pre-term newborn, but particularly for what are known as “extremely premature births” (EPBs) such as Nash, the highest jeopardy lies in the immediate hours and days after delivery, as Dr Stanford explained to GWR: “Caring for a baby born at 21 weeks is very different from typical premature cases. Babies born this early require highly specialized care, constant surveillance and frequent monitoring – every hour can make a difference. 

“While Nash faced many critical challenges early on, he showed remarkable resilience. After those first few extremely delicate weeks, he began to make steady progress, which was truly extraordinary to witness.”

While the medical team diligently went about doing all they could to ensure that Nash pulled through, it was a painful waiting game for his parents. Mollie describes the first few days as “a blur of fear, uncertainty and hope”.

She recalls being “surrounded by machines, monitors and a whirlwind of medical terms, but also by an incredible team fighting for him every second. It was emotionally overwhelming, but somehow, even in all the chaos, there was this tiny spark of strength in him that gave us hope.”

In what has been a year of milestones, on various scales, one of the most significant for Nash’s parents was undoubtedly the first opportunity to hold their son.

“He was so tiny, I could barely even feel him on my chest,” Mollie recalled. “He was covered in wires and monitors, and I was VERY nervous… but the moment he was placed on my chest, all my nerves disappeared. I’d waited so long for that skin-to-skin contact – three weeks to be exact – and it felt like pure relief and love all at once.”

After some six months being cared for at the NICU, Nash was cleared to return home in early January 2025 – a massive turning point that marked a major leap forward in his young life.

Since then, Nash has been going from strength to strength, although he still needs some extra assistance as he develops:

“We’re incredibly proud of how far Nash has come,” Mollie said. “His progress has been amazing, especially considering how early and fragile his start was. He’s getting stronger, more interactive and making great strides with therapy.

“Nash still has some medical needs. He’s on oxygen, has a feeding tube and wears hearing aids for mild hearing loss. He goes to a specialized medical daycare… and that’s also where he receives all his therapies. We also have regular check-ups with his care team in Iowa City.”

The ongoing appointments at University of Iowa Health Care give the staff there a much-cherished chance to check in with their record-breaking patient, as Dr Stanford told us: “Watching him grow and thrive fills me with immense pride – not only for Nash himself but also for his family and the entire care team who made his success possible. Nash is truly history in the making, paving the way for the care of other babies born as early as he was.”

Throughout the Keens’ journey, they have received a great deal of support and well wishes, from both those they know and complete strangers – a wave of compassion for which the family will be eternally grateful.

“Nash isn’t just a record breaker – he’s a heart-stealer,” Mollie said. “From the very beginning, our family and friends rallied behind him, and as his story spread, so did the love.

“Nash has become a bit of a local celebrity and beyond. His story has touched so many hearts in our community and across the country.”

But of course, the Keens’ gratitude in particular goes to the medical team that saw their son through his challenging start to life. Speaking directly to the NICU team at University of Iowa Health Care, Mollie said: “You didn’t just care for Nash, you loved him. You treated him like one of your own, and you included us every step of the way.

“The nurses who stopped by just to check in, who celebrated milestones with us like he was their own, it meant everything. You turned a scary, sterile space into something that felt like home. You were more than medical staff. You became our people, our family.”

The admiration works both ways, as Dr Stanford was eager to point out: “Nash and the Keen family have taught me the power of never giving up hope. Their resilience and determination have been truly inspiring.

“Seeing Nash’s smile and hearing his giggles reminds me every day why it’s so important to keep advocating for our patients and their families, even in the most challenging circumstances.”

While not folks who are naturally drawn to the spotlight, the Keens felt it was their duty to speak out and celebrate how far Nash has come.

“We never set out to be in the spotlight, that’s just not us,” Mollie admitted, “but sharing Nash’s story felt important. We wanted to give hope to other families walking hard medical roads and to show what’s possible even in the most uncertain circumstances. The attention has always come from a place of love and support, and for that, we’re incredibly grateful.”

Nash’s record surpasses the previous most premature baby by just one day: Curtis Zy-Keith Means (USA) was born to Michelle Butler on 5 July 2020 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital at a gestational age of 21 weeks 1 day, or 148 days, making him 132 days premature.

Prior to that, the record was held by Richard Scott William Hutchinson (USA), who was born 131 days premature to Elizabeth and Richard Hutchinson on 5 June 2020 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, at a gestational age of 21 weeks 2 days.

Earlier in 2025, GWR also recognized a new record for the most premature quadruplets, who turned one on 31 May 2025: the Bryant family of Alabama, USA, welcomed Lainey, Kali, Lennon and Koen at a gestational age of 23 weeks 4 days – or 115 days early – on 31 May 2024. This broke a record that had stood for nearly three decades.