DES MOINES, Iowa — A baby who weighed 13 ounces at birth died Monday morning, the infant's family said.
Jaden Wesley Morrow died surrounded by his family, KCCI reported. He was 25 days old.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
"He came to teach us the real meaning of love and strength," Ellonn Smartt, Jaden's mother, told the television station.
Smartt gave birth to Jaden on July 11, when she was 23 weeks into her pregnancy, KCCI reported. The child was born more than 6 pounds under the average of newborns, the Des Moines Register reported.
Jaden had grown to 1.1 pounds by July 28 and was tolerating breast milk, the newspaper reported. He no longer needed insulin injections and was in stable condition as recently as Wednesday, according to the Register.
"Jaden was so loved," Smartt told the newspaper. "Even from those we never met. We want to thank everyone for all of the love and support our fighter got. We will continue to support other families in the NICU just like others have supported us."