A baby was born at 21 weeks and broke the record as the world's most premature.

In the United States, this month the Keen family commemorated their son Nash's first birthday, an event that marked a milestone both for them and for the world of neonatal medicine.

Affectionately known as "Nash Potato," the newborn was officially recognized by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the most premature baby to survive, according to the organization’s recent report.

Nash was born on July 5, 2024, at the University of Iowa Medical Center in Iowa City. He came into the world at just 21 exact weeks of gestation, that is, 133 days before the full term of a pregnancy, established at 280 days. Upon reaching his first year of life, Nash defied the limits of medical science and became the most extreme case of neonatal survival recorded to date.

"The truth is that it's surreal. A year ago, we didn't know what the future would be like and now we've celebrated his first birthday," said Mollie Keen, his mother, to the Guinness team. For her, this anniversary represents much more than a simple celebration: it's a story of struggle, determination, and hope. "This milestone is not just about turning one year old, but about resilience, hope, and everything (Nash) has overcome to get here," she reflected.

The celebration took place in Ankeny, Iowa, the city where the family resides, and was attended by close friends and loved ones. The gifts for Nash included 70 pieces of new clothing, educational toys, a good supply of diapers, and a small portion of cake with whipped cream, specially approved by his doctors for the occasion.

At the time of his birth, Nash weighed just 285 grams (0.63 pounds), less than a grapefruit, and measured only 24 centimeters (9.45 inches) in length. The medical team, led by doctors Malinda Schaefer and H. Bennett Stevens, under the supervision of neonatologist Amy Stanford, immediately transferred him to the hospital's level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), one of the most specialized and advanced in the country.

Nash's arrival into the world so prematurely presented medical challenges beyond the ordinary. Dr. Stanford explained to Guinness World Records: "Caring for a baby born at 21 weeks is very different from typical preterm cases. Those born this early require highly specialized care, constant vigilance, and frequent monitoring: every hour can make the difference."

Despite the severe complications at the beginning, Nash began to show remarkable signs of improvement. "After those extremely delicate first weeks, he started to progress steadily. It was truly extraordinary to witness," Stanford recounted.

During the first moments after birth, the uncertainty was absolute. "He was born so prematurely that we weren't sure if he would survive the critical first hours, but we wanted to give him the best chance," his mother, Mollie Keen, told the Guinness team.