The record for the smallest premature baby to survive was held for some time by Madeline Mann, who was born at 26 weeks weighing 9.9 oz (280 g) and 9.5 inches (24 cm) long. This record was broken in September 2004 by Rumaisa Rahman, who was born in the same Chicago hospital at 25 weeks gestation. The new record holder was a twin whereas the former was a single birth. At birth she was eight inches (20 cm) long and weighed 244 grams (8.6 ounces). Her twin sister was also a small baby, weighing 563 grams (1 pound 4 ounces) at birth. During pregnancy their mother had suffered from pre-eclampsia, which causes dangerously high blood pressure putting the baby into distress and leading to birth by caesarean section. The larger twin left the hospital at the end of December, while the smaller remained there until 10 February 2005 by which time her weight had increased to 1.18 kg (2 pounds 10 ounces). Generally healthy, the twins had to undergo laser eye surgery to correct visual problems, a common occurrence among premature babies.
With a survival chance of less than 1,000 to one, every day she has got through since then is a triumph.Six months later, Kimberly has finally been allowed to go home to her parents in Hanover.
"Babies as small as this usually have no chance," said Dr Oliver Moeller, a heart specialist who treated her."We are incredibly lucky that she lived. Such a case I have never experienced. We had a lot of luck ... a lot."Kimberly is the smallest baby ever born in Germany and the youngest to survive. She was just 10.2 inches long and weighed little more than a packet of butter when she arrived in the 25th week of her mother's pregnancy.
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