Meet the premature 2lbs 13oz baby who was born so small at 28 weeks he was dwarfed by his teddy. Elias Del Collo was born 12 weeks early and spent 98 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) fighting for his life.
His mum, Rebekah, 36, had started haemorrhaging and was blue-lighted to Inspira Hospital, New Jersey, US, where Elias was born just hours later. The tiny tot was immediately whisked to the NICU with a faint heartbeat.
After four days, Elias developed a septic shock and was flown to another hospital - Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware, US. After being diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, visual impairment and chronic lung disease, Rebekah is happy her son defied the odds after doctors warned he wouldn't make it.
