While the chances of giving birth to twins increased 72 percent between 1980 and 2018, it’s still pretty rare. About 33 out of every 1,000 births are twins.
And what are the chances of identical twins? Approximately every three or four births out of every 1,000 are identical twins. So again, relatively rare.
When 23-year-old Savannah Combs found out she was pregnant with twins, she was thrilled. And then she learned another rarity, they both had Down syndrome.
Of course, it was emotional news. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, knew that some people would judge her and her babies because of their condition.
But to Savannah, that’s what makes them incredibly precious.
“It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she told News4JAX.
Savannah, who is from Middleburg, Florida, shared her post-pregnancy journey with her daughters Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on TikTok where they quickly gained a following.
In one of her videos, Savannah said she was told to abort her babies because they would not make it.
She decided to keep them and give them a fighting chance.
”Every [prenatal] appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” Savannah explained.
When she learned they both had Down syndrome, her husband was away at boot camp.
Savannah was 29 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital, and delivered her daughters. The identical twin girls, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, were born on May 12, 2021.
The twins arrived two months before their due date, so they had to spend several weeks in the NICU before they came home.
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.”
Despite their rare condition, Savannah said they are just like any other child.
“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.”
She Used to Cry a Lot After Enduring a Lot of Pain BUT Now She Truly The Pride of Her Family.
Amber has arrived! This morning, a kind soul saw her in a ditch in Lancaster County, South Carolina, a gray beauty torn apart by hideous brutality. Amber’s face was a terrible mess of bruises, infected beyond measure, necessitating quick reconstructive surgery.
Her nasal canal was torn as a result of the cruelty she was subjected to, leaving her gasping for air. Her suffering was compounded by a broken jaw and displaced teeth, and her once perfect nose was now torn apart. Due to the severity of her injuries, the medical team had to sedate her to perform a CT scan, which was unprecedented in their experience.
Amber, who was just two years old, had her whole life ahead of her despite her small body and severe malnutrition. She was sedated daily for nearly five days as committed specialists worked tirelessly to give her a new lease on life. Amber’s face has been repaired and her nasal passages cleared as a result of their steadfast commitment, but the swelling serves as a reminder of her grief.
Her beautiful demeanor was unaffected, a monument to her fortitude in the face of tragedy. Amber showed tremendous courage and love as she healed and faced the hardships of heartworm treatment and sterilization.
She relaxed after a filling lunch and finally cuddled into her blanket for a restful night’s sleep. Today, she went for a walk in her new neighborhood under the warm sunshine with her new siblings, Jack and Alice, clear evidence that she has found comfort and security in her new home.
Amber would like to express her deep gratitude to all of her amazing friends who supported her journey, thought of her as she embarked on her path to a better life, and loved her unconditionally.
Ember’s adventure can be followed on Instagram.
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