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From 21 Weeks to World Record, Meet Nash Keen
One-year-old Nash Keen technically qualifies as a world record holder. When he’s one-year-old, he’s done in his lifetime what the rest of us can’t manage to do in a lifetime (you know, aside from having a primo credit history). Good for you, “did a cartwheel once” man, Nash Keen’s in the Guinness World Book of Records for longest lived preemature baby. Yep, you heard me right, preemature baby.of all time. Go ahead and top that, über toddlers of Instagram.
And you thought he came early? Well, Nash didn’t quite show up any earlier than scheduled; he came so preposterously early that his due date must’ve called for smelling salts. Born at 21 weeks gestation—that’s less than five months for you shy people afraid to look it up this second—he came 133 days too soon. Weighing in at a meager 10 ounces. To put that in some size comparison, that’s the weight of a can of soda, or roughly the size of your phone after you’ve been unable to download apps you’ll never manage to end up with.
When ginormous (and SUPER) young boy Nash walked in, you could guarentee that the room took its collective breath in pure awe. Something like, “Baby? Or the universe’s smallest Olympic candidate?” When you stopped and gauged his size, he was a tiny little mixture of a shot of espresso and a bar of soap. He was just.small.
Nash’s Story of Resilience, Love, and a Hint of Sass
Don’t let his humble beginning fool you, though. This kid’s all willpower. Nash wracked up six months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), surrounded by beeping machines, tubes, and more monitoring than you’d want to see in any given Star Trek sequel movie. He’s been through surgery, around-the-clock nursing that went to infinity and beyond, and STACKS of roadblocks that’d bring tears to the morning caffeine crowd. Neonatologist Amy Stanford described him in the BEST doctor-speak when she called him “remarkable resilient.” That’s doctor-speak for, “This kid’s got more willpower in his little pinkie than my entire fantasy football roster.”
This narrative,Unfortunately, wasn’t free of grief. Randall and Mollie Keen, Nash’s parents, were optimistically cautious. They’d lost a daughter, McKinley, 18 weeks previously, and they knew the bitter unknown of preterm delivery all too well “We did not get our hopes up,” confessed Mollie, summoning up every parent’s cocktail of endurance, pointless hope, and determination in ainto our little scrappier. Fortunately, Nash Potato (yes, that little sunshine of a nickname his), wasn’t fighting his way out preterm.
By his first birthday, Nash wasn’t merely holding his own; he stole the show in every single picture with his bright smile and charming personality. By his dad’s account, he’s been hung up to be the “star of the room.” Show him a smile and say “Nash Potato,” and BOOM! It’s his close-up moment. Stick that kid in some sunglasses and an entourage ASAP; the kid oozes with main-character syndrome.
Inspiring Story of Nash Potato, the Boy Who Beat the Odds
Of course, all was not rainbows and unfurled milestone chart parties either. There was still oxygen help and feeding tube necessary at some point for Nash. Crawling? No way. But rolling? Well, he’s rocking this. Screw you, gravity. Okay, so yeah, he’s battling a slight defect in his heart. But this is the boy that came to life with 0.3% chances to live and more or so looked at everyone and said, “Hold my pacifier.” Slight defect in his heart? Apparently this doesn’t bother him in the least.
The first birthday party was a party to end all parties. Close family and friends gathered with the Keens to fete Nash’s triumphs with cake, toys, and, you know, a nice shiny Guinness World Record certificate. I mean, let’s be serious, it’s not a party without documentation that you’re the best at some feat that no one else did? That’s flex-level next-level content. Nash might not understand what “Guinness World Record” even is at this age, but you know what? It’s waaaaay more cool than a participation trophy.
His mom Mollie drove home this point with this comment: “He’s the best thing that could have happened to us.”And you know what? With this evil smile and all, no one’s complaining? Nash came storming into this world with his fists up? No, he came in with his rolling (and his mic drop).
Nash Potato, we are all cheering for you, bro. More oomph, more thrill, and that indefinable star quality. World’s smallest legend? Checked. Everybody in the room’s favourite? Checked and rechecked.
