Pune: A baby boy born at just 23 week has been discharged after a harrowing yet successful 104-day battle in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Born on Oct 1, 2025, weighing only 670 grams—about the size of a papaya—the infant overcame a series of life-threatening complications to return home stable and thriving.The infant’s journey at Surya Mother & Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, was a test of medical expertise.“This was an extremely high-risk start to life,” said Dr Sachin Shah, director, neonatal and paediatric intensive care services. “At 23 weeks, the lungs are only just beginning to produce surfactants, the substances that allow lungs to expand. Breathing support is the most urgent priority for babies born this early. He was intubated immediately at birth and managed with ventilator support and surfactant doses.“The baby’s survival is particularly remarkable given the breadth of medical hurdles he faced. During his stay, he battled a fungal bloodstream infection (Candida albicans), chronic lung disease, neonatal jaundice, and anemia of prematurity.He also survived early-stage necrotising enterocolitis (a severe intestinal disease), a CMV infection, and retinopathy of prematurity, which can lead to vision loss. Because his skin was extremely fragile, the medical team had to reinvent basic care.“In the first week, the baby’s skin began peeling over his chest,” Dr Shah said. “We had to use specialised wound care, silicone tape instead of regular adhesives, and protective dressings over pressure points like the knees and elbows. He was kept in a humidified incubator designed to mimic the womb as closely as possible.”India reports the highest number of preterm births globally, with an estimated 3.5 million cases annually. Dr Amita Kaul, head of the department and senior paediatric consultant, emphasised that hospitals must be highly equipped to manage such delicate cases.The baby is now showing signs of a healthy recovery. “He is currently on oral feeds and breastfeeding,” Dr Kaul said. “During a review in late Feb, we saw normal weight gain. He is smiling, sucking, and swallowing well, and he is even recognising his mother. For a baby born at 23 weeks, roughly halfway through a full-term pregnancy, these are deeply reassuring milestones.”The family’s journey reached a major milestone on April 1, when the baby was finally cleared for discharge. To ensure his safety at home, the hospital provided an ambu bag and oxygen cylinder, and the parents underwent intensive CPR training to handle any emergencies.Having survived a 104-day journey that few thought possible, the “papaya-sized” miracle is now starting his life outside the hospital walls.
