When conceiving a baby, most families just hope for a healthy baby. However, not everyone chooses genetic testing before birth. Justin Ackerman and Savannah Combs of Jacksonville, Florida, gave birth to premature twins on May 12, 2021.
They knew one of their children might have Down syndrome, but decided not to undergo any other tests. Daughters McKenley and Kennadi Ackerman were born with Down syndrome, which makes them incredibly unique.
Twins
The parents were shocked because it was highly unlikely that both twins would have Down syndrome, but at the same time they were happy that both their daughters were healthy and happy. Because of their early arrival, the twins had to spend more time in the hospital, which made going home with mom and dad even more special.
Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. Life for people with Down syndrome is very different. While some people graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and find employment, others need additional support with financial and legal issues and may never be able to live independently. People with Down syndrome are encouraged to have regular health checkups throughout their lives.
“Rare” twins
Every child is special, but McKenley and Kennady are truly rare. Dr. Pamela Trapan, medical director of the Durant Genetics Center at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, called the birth of twins with Down syndrome “an extremely rare event.” Out of 1,000 twin pregnancies, he is the only one to give birth to at least one child with Down syndrome. However, the chance that both twins have Down syndrome is approximately 1 in 5 million.
Happy children
When they received the diagnosis, their parents reacted differently. Combs’ husband, Ackerman, was “very emotional” and said Combs was just happy her children were there. They were informed before birth that one of their children was likely to have Down syndrome, but refused to proceed with further genetic testing to avoid the risk of miscarriage associated with the procedure. Every prenatal visit where the baby was alive was a blessing for Combs.
In January 2022, the twins achieved a unique milestone while attending weekly therapy sessions under close supervision. Crawling was within reach for these determined girls.
McKenley and Kennady ‘a fascinating duo’
These twins are incredibly adorable and bring great joy to their parents. Combs describes them as people with different personalities. Kennady is a ray of sunshine and McEnley is a true diva. Combs loves his daughters unconditionally, even captioning one of their photos: “Mk can never smile lol.”
In an interview with News4Jax when her twins were 5 months old, Combs said the twins were identical twins, meaning they had their own bladders but shared the same placenta. , explained that they are the same. This combination is already rare, and when you factor in Down syndrome, the odds become 1 in 2 million.
Fighting prejudice and raising awareness
Raising a child with Down syndrome can be difficult because they are often treated differently because of their appearance. But Combs and his family are determined to dispel the stigma and negative ideas surrounding Down syndrome. They started a TikTok channel to share their journey and raise awareness.
TikTok videos
Unfortunately, apart from the love and support they received, some TikTok users also made negative comments. Undaunted, Ms. Combs responded to specific comments by saying that God knew what He was doing in choosing her to be the girls’ mother. She emphasized that her children are normal, loved unconditionally and, in her opinion, have a wonderful life.
spread love and positivity
Combs wants people to know that children born with Down syndrome are no worse than other children. They have feelings, a beating heart, and the ability to learn and grow. The pace at which you achieve your goals may vary, but you will get there. Combs admires the brave and happy girls who bring so much joy to life.
Happy family
The path isn’t always easy for families raising children with Down syndrome, but Combs and her family are paving the way to acceptance and inclusion. They are showing the world that these beautiful twins deserve all the love and happiness in the world. Let me know if this touching story interests you.
Share with your friends and family to spread the word and celebrate the twins’ resilience through adversity.
