Twin pregnancies remain relatively rare, with a 72% increase in likelihood from 1980 to 2018. Approximately 33 out of every 1,000 births result in twins. The chances of having identical twins are even less common, with an average of three to four sets per 1,000 births. Savannah Combs, 23, experienced immense joy upon learning she was expecting twins, and the rarity continued as both were later found to have Down syndrome.
Certainly, the news was disheartening. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, understood that her health condition and the state of her children might lead to judgment from some people. However, Savannah views the uniqueness of their situation as the very thing that makes her children so beautiful. “It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she remarked.
Savannah, originally from Middleburg, Florida, shared her postpartum journey with her children Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman on TikTok, and the videos quickly gained popularity. In one video, Savannah revealed that she had been advised to consider abortion because her children were not expected to survive. Despite the challenging situation, she chose to keep them and give them a chance. “Every [prenatal] appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” explained Savannah.
Discovering that both her daughters had Down syndrome, Savannah’s husband was away at boot camp. When admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks into her pregnancy, she gave birth to identical twin daughters, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on May 12, 2021. Born two months prematurely, the twins had to spend a few weeks in the NICU before finally going home.
“They’re called mono-di twins, meaning they had their own sacs but shared the same placenta, making them identical,” she explained. “Mo-di twins are already very rare, and adding Down syndrome to it makes it one in 2 million.”
Despite having an uncommon condition, Savannah emphasized that her daughters are just like any other youngsters. “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 regularly shares uplifting updates on TikTok as each child achieves 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.”
Despite the positive messages, Savannah and her family have faced criticism on social media. Responding to one particularly cruel comment, where someone said they would put babies like hers up for adoption, Savannah had the perfect reply, which she shared on Facebook: “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.”
Beautiful girls. Those who say otherwise are simply being unkind. They are the most precious and kind-hearted individuals. Please share this heartwarming story on Facebook.