Giving birth to a child is probably the most memorable event in the life of any parent. For each new mom, her kids are truly special, but for our today’s featured heroine they were even more so. Before giving birth to her twins, Savannah Combs didn’t even realize how unique her kids would be. And now she wants to inspire people around the world to love and embrace every special feature that people might have.
The arrival of the twins became a challenge for their mom at the very start.
Twins Mckenli and Kennadi Ackerman were both born with Down syndrome. Their mom, Savannah Combs, welcomed them on May 12, 2021, 2 months prior to their due date. The babies are considered to be very unique, even by the doctors.
Medical specialists commented saying, “For every 1,000 twin pregnancies, around 2 will have at least one baby with Down syndrome. However, the chance before a pregnancy that the pregnancy will be twins and that both twins will have Down syndrome is around one in one to 5 million.”
Their mom knew that at least one of the babies had a risk of being born with Down syndrome, and she was warned about it during her pregnancy. But Savannah did not confirm it with a diagnostic test.
She says, “Every appointment they were alive was a blessing to me.” Their dad, Justin Ackerman, appeared to be “very emotional” when he first heard about the twins’ diagnosis. But the 23-year-old first-time mum Savannah was “just happy they were here.”
Now, as the parents have both embraced their kids’ condition, the family’s life is absolutely blossoming. Savannah says that both babies are “hitting their milestones like no other.”
Both girls have physical and occupational therapy classes twice each week and have demonstrated major progress in their development.
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Some people might have the impression that kids with Down syndrome are always happy, but the twins’ mom advises not to count on that. While Kennadi is really a “ray of sunshine,” Mckenli is not very much like her twin sister. “She’s a total diva,” her mom says.
Savannah loves her unique kids more than everything. In her Facebook post she writes, “I would not trade these curved pinky extra chromosome children for NOTHING. Momma loves you so much.”
Savannah has a powerful message for everyone.
While the girls’ condition is rare, they’re no different than anyone else, and to their mother they’re a huge motivation to keep going.
Savannah says, “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. 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.”
The happy mom wants to remind people that children with Down syndrome should be treated like any other kids who don’t have this condition. “They’re just like us. I’m not going to treat them any differently because they have Down syndrome,” says Savannah.
What are your emotions about this story? What would you wish for the parents of these unique and beautiful babies?
