A baby boy who was born 21 weeks into his mother’s pregnancy has been named the “World’s Most Premature Infant to Survive,” by Guinness World Records. He has been certified as the most premature baby to survive.

Twin Curtis Means was born on Jul. 5, 2020 to his mother, Michelle Butler.​​ Curtis Means, who is now a healthy 16-month-old, was delivered in Birmingham, Alabama, in the US, last year weighing just 420g (less than a pound).  The average weight of a newborn is around 7.5 lb (3.5 kg), while a full-term pregnancy is usually 40 weeks.

Guinness Wᴏrld Records has now ᴄᴏɴfirmed that Curtis, who was 132 days – nearly 19 weeks –premature, set the new record. His mother, Michelle Butler, scrambled ᴛᴏ get to the hospital after being into labour on July 4 2020, amid Independence Day celebrations.

Michelle gave birth to twins, Curtis and C’Asya, at lunchtime the next day. Little C’Asia tragically stops living a day later. However, Curtis beat the odds, clinging on in intensive care.

Mrs Butler, of rural Eutaw, Alabama, said in a statement: “Being able to finally take Curtis home and surprise my older children with their younger brother is a moment I will always remember.”

“My prayers have been answered,” she said. “I gave God my little girl and he let me continue to be the mother to Curtis.”

When he was first born, he weighed just 15 ounces. He was so delicate, Butler said she had to wait four weeks to hold him. At that time, he could fit in the palm of her hand.

For the next nine months, Curtis was cared for in the Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RNICU) at University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Women and Infants Center.

Dr Brian Sims, who was the attending physician, said statistically, children born as young as the twins had virtually no chance of survival. In a statement from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which operates the hospital, Dr Sims said doctors typically advised “compassionate care” in situations of extremely premature births.

Butler traveled from her home to RNICU three or four times a week to see her son. On the days she couldn’t make the commute, which was three-hours round trip, the nurses arranged video calls so she could see Curtis.

“There were ups and downs, good and bad days,” she recalled. “For a couple of weeks he’d do really well and then he’d get sick and go about five steps backwards.”

“I surprised my kids,” Butler said about her children who were unable to visit Curtis due to COVID-19 restrictions. “They didn’t know we were coming home and they were so excited.”

While Curtis, the youngest of four, still needs supplemental oxygen and a feeding tube, doctors say he is in good health. Dr Sims, who oversaw the delivery, told Guinness World Records: “I’ve been doing this almost 20 years, but I’ve never seen a baby this young be as strong as he was. There was something special about Curtis.”

Curtis is now 16-months-old and nearly 19 pounds. He’s still on oxygen and a feeding tube, but should wean off both in the future, according to Sims.

Butler said he’s a “happy baby” who smiles and laughs at you. To other parents of premature babies, she offers some advice.

“Us parents are the biggest advocates for our children, so whatever you feel in your heart you go by it,” she shared. “And continue to pray.”