While twin births rose 72% from 1980 to 2018, they remain uncommon\u2014only about 33 in 1,000. Identical twins are even rarer, at 3 to 4 per 1,000.<\/p>\n
So when 23-year-old Savannah Combs learned she was expecting identical twins, she was thrilled. Then came even rarer news: both babies had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n
Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, knew their daughters might face judgment, but Savannah saw them as \u201clittle gems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite being urged to terminate the pregnancy, Savannah chose to give her babies a chance. Born at 29 weeks on May 12, 2021, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman spent weeks in the NICU.<\/p>\n
The twins are \u201cmo-di,\u201d meaning they had separate sacs but shared a placenta\u2014rare on its own. Adding Down syndrome makes their case about 1 in 2 million.<\/p>\n
Savannah, from Middleburg, Florida, documents their journey on TikTok, where their resilience has inspired thousands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have feelings, a heartbeat, and can do everything others do\u2014just at their own pace,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite criticism online, Savannah defends her daughters fiercely: \u201cGood thing they weren\u2019t born to you\u2014they were born to me. God knew what He was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While twin births rose 72% from 1980 to 2018, they remain uncommon\u2014only about 33 in 1,000. Identical twins are even rarer, at 3 to 4 per 1,000. So when 23-year-old Savannah Combs learned she was expecting identical twins, she was thrilled. Then came even rarer news: both babies had Down syndrome. Savannah and her husband,…<\/p>\n