Tiny Fighter Celebrates Inspiring First Birthday Miracle

Quick Smiles:

• Baby Nash defies the odds, celebrating his vibrant first birthday
• Incredible teamwork and love from family and healthcare heroes made a difference
• Nash’s story brings hope to countless families worldwide

When Mollie and Randall Keen celebrated their son Nash turning one, their hearts overflowed with gratitude and joy. Born in Ankeny, Iowa at just 21 weeks and weighing less than a soda can, Nash’s very first candle marks a world record and a shining example of hope.

Affectionately called “Nash Potato” by his loving family, Nash arrived 133 days early at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. While his beginnings were uncertain, his journey soon inspired everyone around him. For Mollie and Randall, who had previously faced heartbreak with the loss of their daughter McKinley, this new chapter was both daunting and precious.

Despite challenges—Mollie’s diagnosis of an incompetent cervix and polycystic ovary syndrome—they carefully watched over their new pregnancy. At the critical 20-week scan, Mollie sensed something wasn’t right, leading to an emergency room visit and strict bed rest.

Hope began to blossom when a kind message in a support group shared that University of Iowa’s children’s hospital was helping babies born as early as 21 weeks. The Keens gathered their courage and made the journey, aiming to give Nash every chance at life.

Labor started in the early hours, and the care team acted swiftly. Just after the crucial 21-week threshold, Nash made his entrance into the world. Dr. Malinda Schaefer, who delivered Nash, reflected, “It was a new frontier. We didn’t know what the outcome would be.”

Nash weighed only 10 ounces and measured under 10 inches long. Neonatologist Dr. Amy Stanford successfully placed a breathing tube, which helped steady his heartbeat. “He let us do what we needed to help him,” she recalled.

The daunting environment of the NICU was transformed by the dedication of his doctors and nurses. Mollie expressed, “They turned a scary, sterile space into something that felt like home. They became our people, our family.”

Nash’s first weeks were full of uncertainty, including a surgery for a perforated bowel. Yet he met each challenge with resilience. Mollie bravely shared, “There were so many ups and downs. But I’m starting to understand that’s part of the journey most NICU parents go through.”

After an incredible 189 days in the hospital, Nash was finally strong enough to come home. The Keens treasure the moment Mollie first held Nash after three weeks apart: “He was so tiny, I could barely even feel him on my chest. It felt like pure relief and love all at once.”

Today, Nash is thriving, surrounded by the support of friends, family, and a medical team that never stopped believing in miracles. At his joyful birthday party, he enjoyed cake topped with whipped cream and mountains of toys—and all the love a little “Nash Potato” could ever need.

Looking back, Mollie shared, “I hope Nash grows up knowing how loved he is and how many people have been cheering for him since the beginning. I want him to see his story as a source of strength.”

Dr. Stanford echoed that sentiment: “Nash and the Keen family have taught me the power of never giving up hope.”

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