When Carlos was born, he weighed less than a loaf of bread. Now, he’s turning his survival story into a mission help other babies like him.

When Carlos was born, his mum was told by doctors he was too small to survive. Now, the Gold Coast teenager is putting in a marathon effort to help give other premature babies a fighting chance. READ HIS STORY.

Carlos Celis, 18yrs, from Reedy Creek is getting ready for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon at Miami Beach on 5-6 July. He hopes to raise $5,000 for sick and premature babies. Photo: Annette Dew.

Eighteen years ago, Carlos Celis was fighting for his life in a neonatal intensive care unit, born 13 weeks premature and weighing less than a loaf of bread.

Now, he’s turning his survival story into a mission to raise funds for sick and premature babies across the country.

Hoping to raise $5000 for Running for Premature Babies, a charity that provides lifesaving neonatal equipment to hospitals across Australia, Mr Celis will lace up his shoes this July for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon – a challenge, he says is “outside his comfort zone.”

“I was never really a runner,” he said. “I haven’t run in a few years (since playing football) so just getting back into the routine of things has been a bit hard, but now it’s all flowing really well.”

Carlos Celis, 18yrs, from Reedy Creek is getting ready for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon at Miami Beach on 5-6 July. He hopes to raise $5,000 for sick and premature babies. Photo: Annette Dew.

Training on the track and in the gym up to eight times a week, the Reedy Creek teenager is taking on the challenge not just for himself, but for the thousands of babies born too soon each year.

“I’m doing it for all the premature babies and their families out there – because I know how hard it is – it was a really tough time for my mum,” he said.

Born at just 27 weeks and weighing only 743g, Mr Celis and his twin brother Richard were fighting for their lives in Mater Mothers’ Hospital’s Neonatal Critical Care Unit.

At the time, their parents were told by doctors to “prepare for the worst”.

“On numerous occasions doctors told my parents I might not make it and I know this was hard on them,” Mr Celis said.

“But they kept persevering. My family were always there for me.”

Carlos Celis was born premature at Mater Mothers' Hospital 18 years ago. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Celis said early in his mum’s pregnancy, he and his brother were diagnosed with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), which is a condition that affects identical twins who share a placenta and experience an imbalance in blood flow.

While they didn’t require surgery, Carlos was also born with a perforated and obstructed bowel and needed intensive medical care in his first months of life — care he now wants to help other newborns receive.

“I was in hospital for 106 days,” he said.

Six months into his training, the Hillcrest Christian College graduate said his family was still as supportive as ever.

A fragile baby Carlos was born at Mater Mothers' Hospital 13 weeks early, weighing 743 grams. Photo: Supplied.

“They’ve been helping me get the right nutrition, running gear – stuff like that,” he said.

“They’re very supportive, and proud of me.”

He said when he crossed that finish line, he anticipated feeling a sense of relief and hoped people saw that “you can always do stuff to improve the world”.

He said he feels lucky to have defied the odds and is grateful he is here today to give back.

“I’ve been through a lot when I was younger, so to be here now – it feels amazing.”

Originally published as When Carlos was born, he weighed less than a loaf of bread. Now, he’s turning his survival story into a mission help other babies like him.