Did you know that the likelihood of conceiving twins has increased by 72% between 1980 and 2018? However, despite this increase, twins are still quite rare, with only about 33 out of every 1,000 births being twins. And when it comes to identical twins, they are even more uncommon, with only three or four sets for every 1,000 births. In this rare scenario, Savannah Combs, a 23-year-old woman, discovered that she was expecting twins, and to her surprise, both of them had Down syndrome.
This revelation brought mixed emotions for Savannah and her partner, Justin Ackerman. They knew that their children would face judgment and criticism due to their condition. But for Savannah, the rarity of her precious twins only heightened their value.
In an interview with News4JAX, Savannah said, “It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems.” She cherishes her children despite the challenges they may face.
Savannah, a proud native of Middleburg, Florida, decided to share her postpartum journey with her twin daughters, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on TikTok. The videos gained instant popularity and touched the hearts of many.
In one of her TikTok videos, Savannah revealed that she had been advised to abort her children because of their prognosis. However, she chose to give them a chance at life, considering every prenatal appointment to be a blessing.
Imagine her strength and determination as she faced the uncertainty of her husband being away at boot camp while discovering that both twins had Down syndrome.
At 29 weeks into her pregnancy, Savannah was admitted to the hospital and gave birth to her twin daughters prematurely. The twins had to spend a few weeks in the NICU before finally going home.
“They’re called mono di twins, meaning that they had their own sacs but shared the same placenta, making them identical,” Savannah explained. “Mo di twins are already very rare, and adding Down syndrome on top of it, it’s like one in 2 million.”
Despite their unique condition, Savannah emphasizes that her children 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,” she said. “They will get there. They may be a step behind, but they’re going to do it. These kids are feisty little things and happy little things.”
As Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman continue to reach their milestones, Savannah shares their adorable updates on TikTok, spreading love and hope. She wants her daughters to know that they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.
Unfortunately, there are still some people who feel the need to criticize Savannah and her family. Despite facing insensitive comments on social media, Savannah remains resilient and responds with grace and strength. One such person wrote, “I wouldn’t want those babies; if mine came out like that, they would be straight up for adoption.”
Savannah’s powerful response shared on Facebook shut down the critic. She wrote, “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.”
Let us celebrate the beauty and resilience of these gorgeous girls. Those who claim otherwise are simply being cruel. Savannah and her family are a testament to kindness and unconditional love. Help us share their heartwarming story on Facebook and spread a message of acceptance and love.
