'Miracle' baby born same weight as coke can defies odds reaching first birthday
A tiny 'miracle' boy, who was born the size of a Coke can, has defied all expectations as he has celebrated his first birthday after being born at just 27 weeks.
The brave little baby, Leovani Vera, weighed just 14.5 ounces (410g) when he was born - the same as a can of Coke. He was so small when he was born, in fact, that his dad's wedding ring fit around his wrist like a bracelet.
Leovani spent the first four months fighting for his life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). But 12 months later, he now weighs a normal and health 14lbs 8oz and has celebrated his first birthday - something his family feared they would never see.
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Leovani spent the first few months of his life in the NICU (@growingleoathome / CATERS NEWS)
Leovani with sister Miah and dad Roberto in hospital (@growingleoathome / CATERS NEWS)His mum, Isabel, 32, calls Leovani her little miracle, admitting she went into survival mode when he was born and worried he'd never make it to where he is now. She recalled: "I barely left his side when he was born and even at home, I would be checking the camera to make sure he was okay in the hospital, Leovani is my miracle and I'm just over the moon to be able to say he's a happy and healthy one-year-old."
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During her pregnancy, Isabel, from Texas, noticed that Leovani's growth was slowing down significantly. At her 20-week scan, he was measuring about five weeks behind. There were concerns for his health, as it was unusual for a baby to be so small this close to birth. Isabel's blood flow also became a concern, as it was preventing nutrients from reaching Leovani.
After doctors raised concerns about her baby's size, a mum-to-be feared her son might be stillborn if his growth didn't improve. In December 2022, Isabel revealed that her blood pressure had skyrocketed and she needed to deliver Leovani immediately.
Leovani was born at just 27 weeks weighing the same as a can of Coke (@growingleoathome / CATERS NEWS)
The early arrival caused the tot to spend more than 100 days in ICU (@growingleoathome / CATERS NEWS)She gave birth to her son that day, with him weighing just 14.5 ounces - about the same as a can of coke. Because he was so tiny, he spent the next 127 days in the NICU where doctors monitored his health and weight.
Initially, Isabel was hesitant to share her baby's weight, fearing lack of support. But after sharing her story on social media, she connected with other families in similar situations, boosting her confidence that Leovani would pull through.
Leovani has now been home for 245 days and has even celebrated his first birthday, hitting milestones like learning to crawl. Proud of his progress, Isabel ensured he had a memorable birthday celebration with close family and a fun trip to Chuck E Cheese.
Leovani's mum calls him her miracle baby because he's managed to beat the odds and been given a clean bill of health by doctors after plenty of check-ups. She shared: "Leo was measuring quite a bit behind his growth so we started to worry that he wouldn't have a heartbeat when he was born.
Leovani's family made sure to celebrate every milestone the little fighter made it to (@growingleoathome / CATERS NEWS)"I begged and begged for the doctors to do what they could, when he was finally born, I went into survival mode. I just kept crying and I hardly stopped to even process what we were going through. When he was in the NICU I commuted there daily to visit him.
"There were some nights that were some nights I was there so late that I'd sleep in my car or the waiting room, I just didn't want to leave him. I was afraid to tell people his weight because I was scared, they would say he wouldn't pull through, so I went quite silent across social media.
"When it finally got to his first birthday, we wanted to make it as special as possible but obviously didn't want to overwhelm him. We kept it very small and with immediate family only due to cold season. We had a lovely dinner and some cake at our home. His favourite part was the cupcake!
"I had to take some away from him because he wouldn't stop eating it. Seeing him celebrate his first birthday was like a full circle for me. He also went to Chuck E Cheese for his first birthday as a second little celebration, he loved being around all the sounds and lights!"
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* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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