Although the chances of giving birth to twins increased by 72% between 1980 and 2018, it remains a fairly rare phenomenon. About 33 out of every 1,000 births are twins.
And what is the probability of having monozygotic twins? About three or four births per thousand. So it’s still relatively rare.
When 23-year-old Savannah Combs found out she was expecting twins, she was thrilled. Then she learned of another rarity: both babies had Down syndrome.
It was, of course, highly emotional news. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, knew that some people would judge her and the children because of their condition.
But for Savannah, that’s exactly what makes them incredibly precious.
“It’s a very rare phenomenon, but they’re my little treasures,” she told News4JAX.
Originally from Middleburg, Florida, Savannah shared her pregnancy journey with her daughters, Kenadie Rue and McKinlee Ackerman, on TikTok, where they quickly gained popularity.
In one of her videos, Savannah said she had been advised to have an abortion because the babies wouldn’t survive.
She chose to keep them and give them a chance at life. “Every prenatal visit where they were still alive was a blessing,” Savannah explained.
When the diagnosis came, her husband was away at military training. At 29 weeks pregnant, she was hospitalized and gave birth to her daughters. The identical twins, Kenadie Rue and McKinlee Ackerman, were born on May 12, 2021.
The girls arrived two months early, so they spent several weeks in intensive care before they could go home.
“They were classified as mono-di twins, meaning they each had their own amniotic sac but shared a placenta — so they were identical,” she explained.
“Mono-di twins are already very rare. But with Down syndrome, it’s about one birth in two million.”
Despite their rare condition, Savannah says they are just like other children.
“They have feelings. Their hearts beat. They can talk. They can do what you do. They will succeed,” she said. “Like I said, they might be a little delayed, but they’ll get there. I’ve learned that these children are full of spirit and joy.”
As her daughters reach each new milestone, Savannah shares their progress on TikTok.
“I want them to know they’re just like us, and that they can succeed if they put in the effort.”
However, some people continue to criticize Savannah and her family. The young mom has had to respond to some very insensitive comments on social media.
“I wouldn’t want children like that; if mine were born that way, I’d give them up for adoption immediately,” one person wrote.
But Savannah had the perfect response, which she shared on Facebook:
“I said: thankfully, they weren’t born to you — they were born to me. God knew what He was doing when He gave these little ones to parents who would love them no matter what.”
Beautiful little girls. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply cruel. These beings are the most precious and loving in the world.
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