Preemie baby home after 431 days in hospital

A ‘courageous’ preemie baby boy in the US state of Kentucky has gone home after more than a year in hospital.

Colsen Knox was born at 24 weeks gestation, weighing just a pound and a half. He spent 431 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before being able to be discharged home with his parents.

In Britain, abortion is available for most reasons up to 24 weeks, the age at which babies are deemed to be ‘viable’ outside the womb.

‘So deeply loved’

His mum, Savannah, celebrated his homecoming, writing: “431 days of praying, fighting, hoping, grieving, celebrating tiny victories, surviving setbacks, and refusing to give up. And now, he’s home. Our sweet Colsen is finally where he always belonged.”

She explained: “There were moments we didn’t know how we’d keep going, moments filled with fear, exhaustion, heartbreak, and uncertainty. But this little boy kept showing us what strength really looks like. Over and over again, he fought his way through every hard day with more courage than we could ever put into words.

“After 431 days in the NICU, after machines, surgeries, tears, milestones celebrated through hospital walls, and prayers whispered at all hours of the night, we finally carried our baby through our front door. And it was everything.”

She thanked everyone who supported the family over the past year, and stated: “He is home. He is safe. He is so deeply loved. And he is absolutely perfect.”

A blessing

Responding to negative comments about abortion, Savannah wrote: “Colsen is a blessing. At 24 weeks or full-term, healthy or not, he is loved endlessly. He deserves love, care, and support. He deserves to be here. The NICU exists for babies just like him.”

She stated: “We showed up through every hard day to get us here. And we’d do it a million times over for that sweet face. We cannot wait to have both of our babies under one roof. Yes, our hands are going to be full. But thank God, they aren’t empty.”

Angus Saul, Head of Communications at the Christian Institute, said: “Whether born or preborn, unwell or healthy, planned or unplanned, each human life is a gift from God, a person made in his image and should be treated as such.”