The world's most premature baby ever to survive is turning one-year-old after doctors gave him little hope of living a few hours - let alone a year.
Baby Richard Scott William Hutchinson weighed less than one pound when he was born at 21 weeks in June 2020.
Doctors at Children's Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis told his parents, Rick and Elizabeth, that their infant son had no chance of survival.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Richard's health slowly improved over the six months he spent in the hospital and he is now a thriving toddler.
He is also officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most premature baby to survive after birth.
Richard Scott William Hutchinson, from Somerset, Wisconsin the world's most premature baby to survive, celebrated his first birthday on June 5 (above)
Richard Scott William Hutchinson, from Somerset, Wisconsin, was born in June 2020 at 21 weeks and two days weighing just 11.9 ounces
'Miracle baby' Richard celebrated his first birthday at his parents' home in Wisconsin surrounded by balloons and a birthday banner.
And he was given first dibs at enjoying a piece of his white and blue birthday cake with sprinkles on top.
'I knew the first few weeks of Richard’s life would be very difficult, but I felt that if he could make it through that, he would be a survivor,' Beth told Guinness.
Beth and Rick had always dreamed of having children.
They found out they were expecting a baby in late 2018, but ended up suffering a miscarriage at just seven weeks, according to a GoFundMe page.
After months of grieving and trying to conceive again, Beth learned she was pregnant in February 2020.
In early June, Beth wasn't feeling well and decided to get checked out by her OBGYN, according to the GoFundMe page.
The examination revealed Beth's cervix was three centimeters dilated, something that doesn't occur until the ninth month of pregnancy.
She was immediately admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, where, after discussion with doctors, it was determined that Richard would be delivered and they would do all they could to keep him alive.
Richard was born on June 5 at 21 weeks and two days, making him 131 days premature.
Richard was so small that he could fit into the palm of a hand and had translucent skin so that doctors could see his bones and organs
Doctors at Children's Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis told Richard's parents that he had zero odds of surviving
Almost one out of every 10
