Embracing motherhood is an extraordinary experience for any woman. While all mothers consider their children precious, a first-time mother didn’t realize that her twin girls were exceedingly rare.
Choosing kindness and love is never a bad idea in a world where we can be anything. Sadly, many people are still subjected to differential treatment and belittled for their personal choices.
However, instead of becoming callous, these beautiful souls inspire the world with positivity and happiness. There is power in graciousness, and the story we’re sharing today sheds light on the importance of being kind, understanding, and accepting.
THE DELIGHTED MOTHER
When Savannah Combs discovered she was expecting twins, she was thoroughly elated. Her happiness skyrocketed when the doctors told her she was pregnant with identical twins. But there was another interesting piece of information.
There was an indication that at least one of the twins might be born with Down syndrome, but Combs didn’t confirm it with a diagnostic test. She refused invasive tests to discover if the babies had any underlying health problems because they could cause a miscarriage.
Combs didn’t want to lose any of her babies and was ready to love them just the way they were. “Every [prenatal] appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” exclaimed the delighted first-time mom.
WELCOMING HER BUNDLES OF JOY
Combs gave birth to identical twin girls, Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, on May 12, 2021, two months before their due date, at the Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Her bundles of joy were perfect, but they were also extremely rare.
A Canadian father found himself in the same dilemma when he had to defend his son with Down syndrome from hurtful comments from strangers.Kennadi and Mckenli were Mono/Di twins, meaning the girls had their own sacs but shared the same placenta. But that wasn’t all that was special about them.
RARE AND BEAUTIFUL
The little angels were diagnosed with Mosaic Down syndrome, which had an occurrence rate of one percent in two million. Because they were born prematurely, the girls spent almost two months in the hospital.
Combs revealed that initially, her husband, Justin Ackerman, was quite emotional about the twins’ diagnosis. The then-23-year-old mom knew that several people would judge her and her daughters, but for her, they were precious.
The Middleburg mom explained that her twin girls were just like other kids. They laughed, cried, had different personalities, and experienced mood swings. She described Kennadi as a “ray of sunshine.” Mckenli differed from her twin sister and was a “total diva.”
GOING VIRAL
“They have feelings, they have beating hearts, they know how to talk, they know how to do things you do, and they will get there. Like I say, it may be a step behind, but they’re going to do it,” said Combs in an interview with News4Jax.
Despite knowing that her bundles of joy might get negative remarks, Combs chose to document their journey on her TikTok account. The precious little gems have become a viral sensation, with many of their videos racking up millions of views on TikTok.
Combs continues to be active on TikTok and Facebook because she wishes to educate and raise awareness regarding Down syndrome. Sadly, there are still those who never miss a chance to criticize the young mom and her adorable girls.
HANDLING CRITICISM
“I wouldn’t want those babies; if mine came out like that, they would be straight up for adoption,” said one person to Combs. The doting mom had a perfect response, which she shared in her Facebook post:
“I said, 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.”
Mckenli and Kennadi continue to thrive and attend their weekly speech, occupational, and physical therapy sessions. Combs described that her twin girls are meeting their milestones, and she’s proud to be their mother. We couldn’t agree more with her!
AN INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS
Combs is a kind-hearted and brave mother who chooses to love her twin girls despite the criticism. At the same time, she dedicates her time and effort to raising awareness around Down syndrome and treating everyone with love and respect.
A Canadian father found himself in the same dilemma when he had to defend his son with Down syndrome from hurtful comments from strangers. He wanted the world to know that Down syndrome was the best thing that ever happened to him.
