World’s Most Premature Baby Defies Odds, Breaks Guinness World Record
- A newborn baby from Alabama has made history as the world's most premature baby to survive, being just 21 weeks old at birth
- Baby Curtis Zy-Keith Means was born in July 2020 and doctors had given him a 1% chance of survival
- Curtis weighed a light 420 grams but responded very well to treatment he received while in hospital
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!
A newborn baby from Alabama has broken the world record for being the most premature baby to survive.
Baby Curtis Zy-Keith Means was born in July 2020, weighing 420 grams.
His due date was expected to be on 11 November. Doctors gave him 1% survival odds when he was born and the little champ outdid himself.
"The medical staff told me that they don’t normally keep babies at that age. It was very stressful," the newborn's mother Chelly Butler told Guinness World Records.
Enjoy reading our stories? Download the BRIEFLY NEWS app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!
Baby responded well to treatment
According to a Guinness World Record website report, Means responded extraordinarily well to treatment and, as the days and weeks went on, he grew stronger and stronger.
The baby was born with a twin sister who was also delivered at 21 weeks one day, named C’Asya Means. However, she was less developed and did not respond to the treatment like her brother did. Tragically, she passed away just a day after birth.
Previous record holder
The previous record holder of the world's most premature baby was held by Richard Scott William, born 131 days earlier than his due date and weighing 337 grams.
Richard was born five months prematurely, so young that he was given zero chances of survival. However, the lucky baby recently celebrated his first birthday surrounded by family members, as reported by CNN.
"I remember picking him up out of his crib and just holding him with tears in my eyes," Kern relived the memorable day Richard was discharged from the hospital.
Richard's delivery was forced after his mother Beth Hutchinson went into a medical emergency that led to premature labour. After staying for six months in the nursery at the Children's Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis, the little one was deemed fit enough for discharge.
Meet Rumeysa Gelgi: 24 year old Turkish girl becomes world's tallest living lady
PIn more news about records, Briefly News reported that Guinness World Records has confirmed a 24-year-old Turkish woman as the world's tallest living female, Briefly News can authoritatively report.
At only 24, the lady, identified as Rumeysa Gelgi, stands at 215.16 centimetres and this was made public through an official statement by Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records website disclosed that Gelgi is tall because of a condition known as Weaver syndrome.
Gelgi's latest achievement is not the first one as she had earlier been confirmed as the world's tallest living teenager in 2014 when she was only 18 years old.
Source: Briefly News
Kelly Lippke (Senior Editor) Kelly Lippke is a copy editor/proofreader who started her career at the Northern-Natal Courier with a BA in Communication Science/Psychology (Unisa, 2007). Kelly has worked for several Caxton publications, including the Highway Mail and Northglen News. Kelly’s unique editing perspective stems from an additional major in Linguistics. Kelly joined Briefly News in 2018 and she has 14 years of experience. Kelly has also passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at kelly.lippke@briefly.co.za.
Reeshni Chetty Reeshni Chetty is a senior current affairs reporter. The Damelin journalism and media studies graduate was top of her class with 16 distinctions and she boasts experience in radio, print and digital media. When Reeshni is not rushing to bring you the most important and breaking news in current affairs, she's raising awareness around mental health. Reeshni has a passion for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.