The likelihood of having twins has increased by 72 percent from 1980 to 2018, making it more common, but still relatively rare, occurring in about 33 out of every 1,000 births. Identical twins, even rarer, make up around three or four births out of every 1,000.
In a unique twist, 23-year-old Savannah Combs, upon discovering she was pregnant with twins, was overjoyed. However, she learned another rarity: both twins had Down syndrome, adding an extraordinary layer to her pregnancy journey.
Receiving the news was undoubtedly emotional for Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman. They were aware that some people might pass judgment on her and the babies due to their condition. Despite the potential for scrutiny, Savannah sees the uniqueness of her twins as something that makes them incredibly precious.
“It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she told News4JAX.
Hailing from Middleburg, Florida, Savannah openly shared her post-pregnancy journey with her daughters Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman on TikTok, gaining a quick following. In a video, she revealed that she was advised to abort her babies because they were not expected to survive.
Despite the challenging prognosis, Savannah made the courageous decision to keep her daughters, offering them a fighting chance at life.
”Every [prenatal] appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” the mum said.
Facing the news of her twins having Down syndrome, Savannah went through this challenging period while her husband was away at boot camp. Admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks pregnant, she delivered her identical twin daughters, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on May 12, 2021. The arrival of the twins marked a significant moment in their unique journey.
The twins, born two months earlier than expected, had to spend a number of weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before they were able to join their family at home. The early arrival added an extra layer of challenge to their initial days.
“They’re called mono di twins, meaning that they had their own sacs, but they shared the same placenta, meaning that they were going to be identical,” she said. “Mo di twins as it is, it’s like very rare. And then you throw Down syndrome on top of it, it’s like one in 2 million.”
Even with their rare condition, Savannah emphasizes that her twin daughters, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, are just like any other children. Despite the challenges they faced early on, the twins bring joy and love to their family like any other kids. Savannah’s perspective highlights the normalcy and uniqueness that coexist in their everyday lives.
“They have feelings. They have a beating heart. They know how to talk. They know how to do things you do. They will get there,” she said. “Like I said, it may be a step behind but they’re going to do it. I’ve learned these kids are feisty little things and happy little things.”
Savannah keeps the TikTok community updated with adorable moments as each of her children reaches their milestones.
“I’m going to let them know that they’re just like us and they’re going to get there as long as they put their minds to it,” she added.
Despite the positivity and joy shared on TikTok, Savannah and her family have faced criticism from some individuals. Unfortunately, the young mom has had to respond to insensitive comments from certain users on social media.
”I wouldn’t want those babies; if mine came out like that, they would be straight up for adoption,” somebody said on her social media account.
Savannah, however, responded to the criticism with a perfect answer, which she shared on Facebook.
“I said, good thing they weren’t born to you and were born to me. God knew what he was doing by giving these babies to the right parents who would love them regardless.”
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