Nathan Ray Teply is being called a “miracle baby”. At just three months old, he has been through more than some people have in years of life. He was born at just 24 weeks old after his mother Mary was diagnosed with Preeclampsia. Mary and her husband Eric made the choice to have a cesarean section in order to give both Mary and Nathan the best chance of surviving.
Nathan was born 16 weeks early. He was 10 inches long and weighed not even a pound- just 14.99 ounces. Nathan was one of the smallest babies ever born in the United States, and he is the smallest baby ever born in the Methodist Women’s Hospital.
However, the doctor who helped deliver him, Dr. Dan Connealy, said that it was a good sign that even though he was so small he had fat on his face and dimples in his cheeks. Nathan has been in the NICU at the hospital since being born. The staff have been closely monitoring him. So far Nathan has had pneumonia, a brain bleed, and kidney failure. He has pulled through each time.
Nathan is now almost up to weighing five pounds. His parents and doctors are thrilled with his progress. His doctor said that the next step in Nathan going home is to get him to eat on his own.