A baby boy born at just 22 weeks gestation and weighing only 1lb 4oz has celebrated his first birthday after overcoming life-threatening complications and spending 163 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Baby Logan Ames became the youngest premature baby ever to survive at the hospital where he was treated. One year later, he weighs 18lb and is thriving at home with his family.
“He is growing, he is learning, he has the sweetest smile and personality that keeps us laughing every day”, recalled his mother, Anna Ames.
Doctors, nurses, relatives, and friends gathered to celebrate Logan’s first birthday and the remarkable medical journey that allowed him to reach the milestone.
“[Logan] was born at 22 weeks, and weighed 572 grams, which comes out to 1 pound and 4 ounces”, explained Dr Jordan Simpson, the hospital’s NICU medical director. “We call him our miracle baby”.
Logan faced a succession of serious complications during his 163 days in hospital, including a perforated bowel and an injured kidney.
“Acute kidney injuries, which are sometimes not uncommon for these little tiny babies, [Logan] went without urinating for a little over six days, and they don’t usually survive”, Dr Simpson said. “We were preparing the family for the worst, but he was a fighter and overcame it”.
Logan underwent surgery and endured repeated setbacks before eventually passing the medical tests needed for him to leave the hospital and return home.
His father, Jacob Ames, said the family had faced constant uncertainty because Logan had been born so early.
“Just being a 22-weeker, you never know. There are just countless hurdles”, he reflected.
At the birthday celebration, Anna paid tribute to the medical professionals who had cared for Logan throughout his long stay in intensive care.
“We aren’t just celebrating Logan’s most significant milestone yet; we are celebrating every nurse who sat at Logan’s bedside and cared for him like he was their own child”, she said. “We are celebrating every physician, every respiratory therapist, technician, support staff member, who played an incredible role in his journey”.
Anna said the team had not only provided the specialist care Logan needed, but had also supported his family throughout the most difficult moments of his treatment.
“Logan’s medical team guided Logan through surgeries, setbacks, and countless challenges. His care required incredible expertise and determination”, she continued. “We will never forget the people who stood beside him and beside us through every high and low”.
Logan’s story has since become a source of encouragement for other families with extremely premature babies. Dr Simpson said medical staff share his story with parents facing similarly uncertain circumstances.
“It’s emotional, because we love taking care of these babies, we fall in love with the babies. We love taking care of them and their families”, she remarked. “We love seeing the success stories. I tell parents all the time, when you leave the NICU, a lot of times we never get to see them again, so I say if you’re ever around here, bring them back, we’d love to see them”.
Logan’s parents now look forward to watching him continue to grow and teaching him about the many people who cared for him from the beginning.
“Thank you for helping us create memories we once feared we would never have”, Anna said to those who cared for her son. “When we look at Logan, we see a miracle”.
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, said: “Logan’s story is a powerful reminder of the humanity and extraordinary potential of babies born at the very edge of viability. That a child born at 22 weeks can survive and thrive should prompt serious reflection on laws that continue to permit abortion beyond this stage of pregnancy”.
