Framework

Capturing the world through photography, video and multimedia

Melinda Star Guido lies in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center after her birth.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hilda Morales

Born Aug. 30, Melinda Star Guido weighed slightly more than nine ounces at birth. Mother Haydee Ibarra and father Yovani Guido hold Melinda, who now weighs more than four pounds.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Haydee Ibarra holds Melinda as the baby is fed.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Melinda Star Guido was born at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Haydee Ibarra holds her daughter, Melinda Star Guido, at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Melinda Star Guido holds her mother's finger while lying in an incubator at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Haydee Ibarra looks at her 14-week-old daughter Melinda Star Guido. The baby was 16 weeks premature.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

Haydee Ibarra looks at her daughter, Melinda Star Guido, at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press

This undated photo provided by Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center shows Melinda Star Guido shortly after her birth in late August next to the hand of Dr. Rangasamy Ramanathan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center

More galleries on Framework

return to gallery

Melinda Star Guido, the third smallest baby on record

The Week in Pictures | May 5-12, 2013

This week firefighters battled multiple wildfires in Southern California with the Springs fire being the largest (  View Post»

   

Tomato Battle

Tomato Battle food fight in Irvine

  Tomato Battle is a tomato fight, with 300 tons of tomatoes and beered-up participants. The Tomato Battle unifies as many as 5,000...   View Post»

   

Melinda Star Guido, the third smallest baby on record

Pictures in the News | Aug. 19, 2011

A daring competitor takes to the air in the Freeski Big Air Mens Qualification during day 8 of the Winter Games NZ at Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka, New Zealand; in southern...   View Post»

   

Melinda Star Guido, the third smallest baby on record

On the revolutionary road in Libya

Times staff photographer Luis Sinco is in Benghazi, Libya, covering the conflict. He filed this report about...   View Post»

Melinda Star Guido, the third smallest baby on record

  • Posted By: Bryan Chan
  • Posted On: 5:57 p.m. | December 15, 2011

Melinda Guido weighed nine ounces when she was born at L.A. County-USC Medical Center on Aug. 30. Doctors saved her life, but she still faces a possible future of lifelong health problems.

Read full story by Anna Gorman, “A medical miracle poses ethical dilemma.”

7 Comments

  1. December 16, 2011, 12:58 pm

    LINK

    A LIFE IS ALIFE WEATHER YOU R BIG OR SMALL. I WOULD KEEP FIGHTING FOR THIS BABY LIFE WE R NOBODY TO DECIDE WHI LIVES OR DIES. ONLY GOD HAS THAT POWER. AND THAT BABY IS HER FOR A REASON . LETS FIGHT FOR HER TRAETMENTS

    By: IMELDA287@YAHOO.COM

  2. December 19, 2011, 8:08 pm

    LINK

    How about we learn to spell first and then we can leave life to your God? ALSO WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING!!!

    By: mh341208@ohio.edu

  3. December 19, 2011, 8:31 pm

    LINK

    Just so you know, if this child were to have been born 15-20 years ago, it would not have survived. All of the things keeping it alive were things made by humans. None of that is “gods will”. Get out of here with that. Its alright to want the child to have treatments continued, but it is going to have issues forever. People werent meant to be born that early. The human body is a very mysterious thing. A child isnt just born early for no reason, there is usually something wrong that it happens.

    By: Megan

  4. December 19, 2011, 10:01 pm

    LINK

    IF it wasn't for the doctors playing God to begin with that child would already be dead. Unfortunately without any medical assistance a child that young and small would not be viable outside the womb. What makes it right to do everything to keep the child alive (by playing God) but make it wrong to let God take over and remove the baby from all medical assistance?

    I do hope the baby survives and becomes a lovely healthy young lady.

    By: cboutin62@gmail.com

  5. December 20, 2011, 1:23 am

    LINK

    It's nice to know that the medical science that was developed back in the early 90s for neonatal care with my little brother is being put to good use. he was born at 11oz @ 28 weeks in 1992. They worried us with talk of CP, MD, and many other physical and mental challenges. He now is working on his college degree and has no physical or mental abnormalities. This child, with proper care and nourishment, will do great things.

    By: hazard2k6@gmail.com

  6. December 20, 2011, 1:43 am

    LINK

    I wish people would quit it with the GOD references. For the last time – there is NO GOD. Even if there was one, he doesn’t care about this baby or any other baby.

    If the DOCTORS hadn’t saved her, i seriously doubt that GOD would have. Enough is enough.

    If you trust in GOD all your life, you’re a sucker in death! Trust in your FELLOW MAN.

    By: Monkay Mann

  7. December 20, 2011, 12:30 pm

    LINK

    THIS should not be! THIS goes against the natural order of things.

    I OBJECT TO MY TAX MONEY (HALF A MILLION THUS FAR), being spent to keep this FETUS ALIVE!

    The ethical dilemna is thus: It will have mental, physical, and psychological issues. Most likely spend the rest of it’s life in a MENTAL INSTITUTION!

    WAS IT WORTH IT!? NO!

    By: Absynthe

Add a comment or a question.

If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

Required

Required, will not be published