Tiniest surviving baby in U.S. celebrates her first birthday

Evelyn Eilers’ first birthday party had a lot of what most first birthday parties have: cake, balloons, presents. 

But Evelyn isn’t like most 1-year-olds. Born Sept. 9, 2023, she weighed just 8.46 ounces, making her the tiniest surviving baby in the United States. She came 17 weeks early and was in the neonatal intensive care unit at University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital until she was 7 months old.

Because of her early and tiny start, milestones in her first year were different from others babies her age. She didn’t eat the cake, although she did taste—and like—the frosting. She didn’t waddle over to her pile of presents. She sat wide-eyed, in an infant chair or on the laps of her parents and grandparents, watching the festivities going on around her. 

“She is rolling all the time from her belly to her back and trying to roll from her back to her belly, and getting very close,” says her mom, Emily Eilers, of Solon. “She is almost sitting up unsupported.” 

“She is very happy, and we love trying to make her smile and giggle,” she says. 

Evelyn weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces by the time she was able to go home from the hospital. On her birthday, she weighed 14.6 pounds. She’s still on 0.75 liters of oxygen, and is being fed through a gastrointestinal tube, although she’s trying a handful of soft foods: Peaches and buttery croissants are her favorites. 

“Tasting food is hit or miss,” Emily says. “When she is in a good mood and willing to try, she loves tasting and licking food.” 

Though they enjoyed celebrating Evelyn’s birthday, Emily and Ted Eilers don’t take their daughter’s first year for granted. 

“It was hard to reminisce on the last year,” Emily says. “It was difficult in so many ways, but we also have so much to be grateful for. So while turning 1 was a big milestone worth celebrating, we celebrate every day we get to spend with her because we know how hard she worked to get here.”