Texas Hill Country News

Texas Baby Who Made Headlines For Weighing 15.5 oz Now Graduating From High School

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Ryan McCarty, “one of Central Texas’ smallest surviving babies at birth,” is now graduating from Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville. KXAN writes that 18 years ago, Ryan was born to Mary and Charles McCarty who were told that their twin sons would either pass away or suffer from major hardships. In the case of Ryan’s twin, Aaron, doctors were correct. Sadly, he passed away only days after birth, but miraculously, Ryan lived on to become a young man who hopes to become a horticulturist or a meteorologist.

“They had told us that he pretty much had a zero percent chance of coming home. They said if he did make it, he would probably be blind, deaf or have cerebral palsy,” Mary told the news. Ryan was diagnosed with a high-functioning form of autism at age nine, but he persevered through his classes and proudly graduates from high school this week.

According to the CDC, 10 percent of babies born in 2015 were considered premature since they were born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Baby Ryan was born at only 23 weeks of age and weighed a frightening 15.5 ounces at birth (which is about .96 pounds.)

“Oh, I’m taking Kleenex,” Mary said about Ryan’s graduation. “And, they’ll hear us. We’ll be yelling. We’re very proud.”