• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Family

Baby born at 1 pound heads home after spending 133 days in hospital

0:54
Baby born at 1 pound finally heads home after spending 133 days in the hospital
Tulane Health System
ByNicole Pelletiere
October 14, 2020, 8:08 AM

A micro preemie who was born at just 1 pound has defied the odds after doctors determined he had little chance of survival.

Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the neonatal intensive care unit and finally arrived home Oct. 1.

"If it wasn't for them and God, I don't think he would be here," mom Natasha Williams told "Good Morning America." "They are so sweet and became our family. ... We cried quite a bit when we had to say goodbye."

Williams, now a mother of three, said when trying to have Russell she was pregnant three times, but none of the babies had heartbeats.

PHOTO: Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana, after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1.
Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana, after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1. Russell is seen in this before-and-after birth photo.
Tulane Health System/Russell Appold Sr.

Editor’s Picks

4-month-old with brittle bone disease is mom's miracle baby

  • Jul 27, 2020

1-pound preemie who spent 122 days in NICU reunites with life-saving medical staff

  • Aug 10, 2020

Our miracle baby was born amid the Beirut blast

  • Aug 26, 2020

"It was so scary when I found out we were pregnant with [Russell], we didn't want everyone to get their hopes up," Williams added. "When we went to the doctor they said the baby had a strong heartbeat."

At 15 weeks pregnant, Williams' cervix started to open up. She had emergency surgery and a procedure to stop her from going into labor."

Related Articles

MORE: Mom adopts 3rd sibling after learning she was fostering son's biological sister

But on May 20, Williams went into preterm labor. Doctors told her it was likely that Russell would not make it.

"My fiance and I both cried and we started praying," Williams said. "My water broke on Wednesday and I gave birth to him on a Friday at about 10:55."

PHOTO: Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1. The hospital gave him a surprise sendoff to mark the end of his NICU stay.
Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana, after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1. The hospital gave him a surprise sendoff to mark the end of his NICU stay.
Tulane Health System

Williams and her fiance, Russell Appold Sr., welcomed Russell Appold Jr. on May 22. Her original due date was Sept. 22.

Related Articles

MORE: Mom gives baby special name after giving birth at 18,000 feet on airplane

"Our experience in caring for Russell was both extremely powerful and humbling," said Tulane neonatologist Lisa Barbiero.

Barbiero said that since 2017, medical professionals discuss resuscitation down to 22 weeks with "appropriate parental counseling and input."

Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana, after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1.
Tulane Health System

"We are in competition with fetal lung embryology," she added. "There does come a point when the lung is too immature to function on its own without the placenta assisting in gas exchange. While the odds are still against these babies at the borderline of viability we have seen dramatic improvements in survival (5% to nearly 20% in some situations) of infants born at less than 23 weeks when the entire team from high risk OB care to neonatology is onboard with supporting a family's request for attempts at resuscitation."

PHOTO: Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1. Russell is seen in this photo being treated by Tulane neonatologist, Lisa Barbiero.
Russell Appold Jr. was treated at Tulane Lakeside Hospital in Louisiana, after his mother went into labor at 22 weeks pregnant. Russell fought 133 days in the NICU and finally arrived home Oct. 1. Russell is seen in this photo being treated by Tulane neonatologist, Lisa Barbiero.
Tulane Health System

After Russell was born, medical staff administered breathing tubes. He experienced jaundice and blood on his brain, but through the months he healed and so far, has beaten the odds.

Russell now weighs over 8 pounds. The hospital gave him a surprise sendoff to mark the end of his NICU stay.

Williams has since started a Facebook page titled, Baby Russell's Journey. She created it for families who have babies in the NICU or women who want to talk through postpartum adjustments.

Editor’s Picks

4-month-old with brittle bone disease is mom's miracle baby

  • Jul 27, 2020

1-pound preemie who spent 122 days in NICU reunites with life-saving medical staff

  • Aug 10, 2020

Our miracle baby was born amid the Beirut blast

  • Aug 26, 2020

Up Next in Family—

New car seat regulations go into effect: What parents need to know

May 23, 2025

High school baseball team goes viral with emotional send-off for seniors

May 23, 2025

'Boy Meets World' star Ben Savage and Tessa Angermeier expecting 1st child

May 21, 2025

What to know about Kobe, Vanessa Bryant's 4 daughters

May 21, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News