The world's most-premature baby, who spent less than 22 weeks in the womb, has finally been allowed to leave a Miami hospital, four months after being born weighing just 280 grams (10 ounces).
Babies under 14 ounces were thought to be unable to survive. At birth she measured just 9.5in. The baby, Amillia, spent 4 months in the neo-natal unit of Baptist Children's Hospital and will need oxygen tanks at home for some time. Amillia had suffered respiratory, digestive and haemorrhaging problems but doctors said they believed she was now doing well.
Amillia's time in the womb is a record according to the University of Iowa which keeps track of premature babies born throughout the world. "She's truly a miracle baby, " said Dr William Smalling, neo-natal expert at the Baptist Children's Hospital. "We weren't too optimistic. But she proved us all wrong," he said.
Her parents named her Amillia - which means resilient in Latin, a fighter and hardworking - to reflect her survival against the odds. Mrs Taylor said the worst thing had been not being able to hold her baby for more than six weeks after she was born.
Amillia's survival demonstrates the dramatic advances in neo-natal care in recent years, correspondents say.
February 2007
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