A baby born at just 22 weeks “graduated” from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a cap and gown after spending 160 days in the hospital.
Cullen Potter, from Alabama, weighed 13.9 ounces when he was born in March - four months before his due date.
But after months growing stronger in the NICU at University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, he was finally able to go home.
In celebration of his last day, the baby's parents Molli Potter and Robert Potter dressed their son in a Build-A-Bear cap and gown - the only outfit small enough to fit their now six-pound son.
“We were [at Build-A-Bear] with our older son and my wife was looking and thought it would fit Cullen,” Robert told ABC News. “The hat was actually a little big.”
In the moving video, which has been viewed more than 12 million times on Facebook, a nurse carries Cullen down the hallway to graduation music as hospital staff look on.
The moment was particularly emotional for Cullen’s parents because they were told their son only had a two per cent chance of survival.
“We were told he had a two per cent chance to live. Well, here’s our two per cent. Perfect in every way. God is good, big boy,” Molli wrote on Facebook.
According to Ms Potter, when Cullen was born, the couple’s local hospital refused to try and save him because it said it is not able to save babies born before 24 weeks.
Desperate to save their son’s life, the Potters called 16 other hospitals, all of which said the same thing.
“They acted like transferring was pointless, that trying to save him was pointless,” Cullen’s mother wrote. “Well, here he is. Alive and thriving. Never give up.”
It was at the USA Children’s and Women’s hospital where Cullen was finally able to receive the care he needed - and leave 160 days later with “no major issues.”
“They are amazing at what they do. They believe in these small babies and give them the fighting chance they deserve,” Ms Potter wrote, thanking the hospital.
