Premature Baby Defies Expectations and Comes Home After 314 Days in Hospital

Against all the odds, a baby born prematurely at nearly 24 weeks has finally been discharged from the hospital after 314 days of intensive care, highlighting the value of life even at the earliest stages.

Born at Portsmouth Queen Alexandra Hospital, Bobby Judkins entered the world weighing just 577 grams, about the size of his father’s hand. His mother, Lilly Pearce, 25, had gone into labor unexpectedly at 23 weeks and six days. Despite dire predictions, Bobby surprised doctors by crying at birth, showing a will to fight from the start.

“They told us he would not make it.” Lilly told the Dorset Echo. "That there was nothing they could do to help him." "But he decided he was not quite done yet, and came out the other side of it." The journey was anything but smooth. Bobby faced numerous challenges, including severe infections and brain bleeds. He underwent emergency surgery for a perforated bowel at just two weeks old and remained on ventilators for most of his stay. Yet, he continued to beat the odds.

“We were told to prepare for the worst” Lilly shared. “and even put in an end-of-life room.” "We were told multiple times he would not come home." However, Bobby’s resilience never wavered, and after almost a year, he finally went home, breathing on his own with just a little oxygen support. 

Bobby’s story is a testament to the advances in neonatal care and the tenacity of the human spirit. Born just below the current abortion limit, his survival raises important questions about the sanctity of life and the need to reassess gestational age limits in light of improving medical outcomes.