In early 2024, a couple’s dreams were reignited after a heartbreaking loss. Mollie and Randall Keen were excited to welcome a new life into their family when they discovered that Mollie was expecting. Their joy soon turned into worry, however, as a routine doctor’s visit revealed unexpected complications.

“I just had this feeling something wasn’t quite right,” Mollie recalled. During a 20-week scan, she discovered that she was already two centimeters dilated—a chilling sign of early labor. What followed was an emotional rollercoaster as they found themselves in a hospital room, anxiously awaiting the safe arrival of their baby.

The couple learned that the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the University of Iowa Health Care’s Children’s Hospital had recently begun lifesaving measures for babies born at just 21 weeks. The priority was for Mollie to hold on until midnight on July 5, giving their little one a fighting chance.

As days passed, Mollie remained under the watchful eye of medical staff, her contractions subsiding just long enough to let hope blossom. When July 5 finally arrived, it marked an extraordinary turning point. Hours past the 21-week milestone, Nash was born, weighing a mere 10 ounces—less than a can of soda.

Medical professionals described his birth as a new frontier in maternal-fetal medicine. “We want to be honest, but also instill hope,” Dr. Malinda Schaefer, a high-risk obstetrician, explained. The odds had never been favorable for a baby born this early, but Nash’s spirit was undeniable.

As the NICU team worked swiftly to ensure his survival, they marveled at Nash’s resilience. Despite being the most premature baby on record with an uncertain future, Nash responded positively to the medical care he received. “He just let us do what we needed to do,” a nurse would later say, noting his incredible strength.

As the months drifted by, Nash faced challenges, including numerous heart tests and careful monitoring. But each milestone brought a sigh of relief for his parents. “Around the one-month mark, we started feeling more hopeful,” nurse Stanford said, indicating that they begun to believe Nash might one day go home.

After 189 long days in the hospital, the moment finally arrived where the Keen family could bring Nash home—a day full of overwhelming joy that felt like a long-lost dream. His resilience ensured that he was making progress, tackling each hurdle with the help of the dedicated care team that believed in him.

Mollie could barely contain her excitement on celebrating Nash’s first birthday on July 5, a day that had once felt impossible. “I never lost hope,” she shared, her eyes sparkling with pride. “I want him to know that his story is one of strength.”

As they celebrated this remarkable milestone, Randall and Mollie were filled with gratitude. Their daughter was a source of unity and hope as they looked towards the future, determined to embrace every moment with their brave little boy.

Join us in sending Nash birthday wishes and spreading his inspiring story far and wide!