While the likelihood of having twins climbed by 72 percent between 1980 and 2018, it is still rather unusual. Twins account for around 33 of every 1,000 births.
What are the chances of having identical twins? Approximately three or four out of every 1,000 births are identical twins. So, once again, uncommon.
Savannah Combs, 23, was overjoyed when she learned she was expecting twins. Then she discovered another unusual fact: they both had Down syndrome.
Of course, it was heartbreaking news. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, were well aware that some people would condemn her and her children because of their circumstances.
But that’s what makes them so valuable to Savannah.
“It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she explained to News4JAX.
Savannah, from Middleburg, Florida, recounted her post-pregnancy journey on TikTok with her kids Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, where they immediately developed a following.
Savannah stated in one of her videos that she was instructed to terminate her infants because they would not survive.
She chose to retain them and give them a shot.
“Every [prenatal] appointment they had while they were alive was a blessing to me,” Savannah said.
Her spouse was gone at boot camp when she discovered they both had Down syndrome.
Savannah was 29 weeks pregnant when she was brought to the hospital, where she gave birth to her twin children. Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, identical twin daughters, were born on May 12, 2021.
The twins arrived two months early, so they had to stay many weeks in the NICU before coming 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 went on to explain.
“Mo di twins are extremely uncommon.” When you add Down syndrome to the mix, it’s one in every two million.”
Savannah claims that despite their uncommon disability, they are just like any other youngster.
“They have emotions.” They have a heart that beats. They know how to communicate. They understand how you do things. “They’ll get there,” she promised.
“As I previously stated, they may be a step behind, but they will complete it. I’ve discovered that these youngsters are feisty and cheerful little beings.”
