‎PHOTOS: World’s most premature baby marks second birthday

Nash Keen, officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most premature baby, has reached a remarkable milestone: his second birthday. Born at the University of Iowa Health Care facility, Nash arrived at a mere 21 weeks' gestation, a staggering 133 days ahead of schedule.

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a blur of fear, uncertainty and hope.

His parents, Mollie and Randall Keen, described the initial hours and days as a "blur of fear, uncertainty and hope." Weighing less than a grapefruit at birth and measuring under 25cm, Nash's survival was far from guaranteed. He spent his first six months in a neonatal intensive care unit before finally being discharged.

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a whole new world for him.

Now two years old, Nash has defied the odds. His weight and growth are now in line with full-term babies, and he has recently learned to sit up unaided and crawl, milestones his mother describes as opening up "a whole new world for him." While he still relies on a feeding tube, Nash has begun sampling solid foods and is expanding his vocabulary, even mimicking animal sounds.

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deeply triggering

Despite a recent week-long hospitalization for a respiratory illness linked to his chronic lung condition, Nash recovered in time to celebrate his birthday at home. His mother, Mollie, emphasizes the importance of celebrating Nash for who he is, acknowledging that every micro-premature baby's journey is unique. She has 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."

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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.