The chance of having twins grew by 72 percent between 1980 and 2018, but it’s still not very common. Around 33 out of every 1,000 births are twins.
Now, if you’re wondering about identical twins, the numbers are even lower. Only about three or four births in every 1,000 are identical twins. It’s a rare event.
When 23-year-old Savannah Combs found out she was expecting twins, she was overjoyed. But there was something even rarer—both babies were diagnosed with Down syndrome.
This news came with mixed emotions. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, understood that not everyone would be supportive of their situation.
But Savannah saw things differently. She believed their rarity made them all the more special.
“It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she shared in an interview with News4JAX.
Savannah, from Middleburg, Florida, began sharing her experiences online. She posted about her life with her daughters, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on TikTok, where they quickly drew attention.
In one of her posts, Savannah revealed that doctors advised her to end the pregnancy, as they believed the babies might not survive.
However, Savannah chose to continue her pregnancy, cherishing every appointment as a sign of hope. “Every time I heard their hearts, it was a blessing,” she said.
When Savannah found out about the Down syndrome diagnosis, her husband was away at boot camp. She was 29 weeks along when she was hospitalized and later gave birth to her daughters.
Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman were born on May 12, 2021, about two months early. They spent several weeks in the NICU before going home.
Savannah explained, “They’re mono-di twins, which means they had separate sacs but shared one placenta. That already is rare. Adding Down syndrome makes it about one in 2 million.”
She often reminds people that her daughters are like any other children. “They have feelings. They will learn and grow. It may take time, but they’ll get there,” Savannah said.
Though some online comments have been unkind, Savannah always responds calmly. “I tell them, thankfully, these babies were given to parents who will love them no matter what.”