The journey of Savannah Combs, mother of rare Down syndrome twins Mckenli and Kennadi Ackerman, is a story of extraordinary opportunity and remarkable resilience…
The World Health Organization estimates that one in 1,000 newborns worldwide is born with Down syndrome each year. [1] However, Savannah Combs’ twin daughters have Down syndrome, which is an absurdly uncommon occurrence. They are my little gems, but what they have is incredibly unusual, she noted.
Dr. Pamela Trapane, medical director of the Duran Genetics Center at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, said that for every 1,000 twin pregnancies, about two will result in at least one child with Down syndrome. However, there is a one in 1 to 5 million chance before conception that the pregnancy will result in twins and that both twins will have Down syndrome.
Twins with rare Down syndrome
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Combs was aware that at least one of the twins, Mckenli and Kennadi Ackerman, would be born with Down syndrome. After two inconclusive results, she decided not to pursue a diagnostic test to confirm this. Every (prenatal) checkup they had, while she was alive, was a blessing for Combs, who is 28. (2)
On May 12, 2021, she gave birth to twins, two months ahead of schedule. The children then spent about six weeks at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Justin Ackerman, their father, first experienced a “very emotional” reaction to the diagnosis.
However, the mother was “just glad they were here.”
They will be identical, which is why they were referred to as mono di twins because they each had their own sac, but shared a placenta, according to Combs. As it is, having twins is quite unusual. One in two million people have Down syndrome on top of everything else.
Combs argued that the twins were just like other newborns at five months, despite their condition.
“They’re emotional. Their hearts are pounding. They’re able to talk. They’re able to do tasks that you can. They’ll come. Even though they may be a step behind, they’ll still get the job done. little things.
The twins are also “hitting milestones like no other,” according to Combs, at eight months old. They are just starting to climb and are taken to speech, physical and occupational therapy twice a week. Their personalities are already shining through. Kennadi is described as a “beam of sunshine” but McKenli is a “total diva”.
Combs started sharing adorable videos of the twins on her Down with the Ackerman Twins TikTok page. He wants to raise people’s awareness about the benefits of Down syndrome.
“They’re just like us”
Combs stated, ‘I’m not going to treat them any differently just because they have Down syndrome.’
Additionally, the family is doing well and the twins are hitting all their developmental milestones.
“I’ll let them know they’re like us and they’ll get there as long as they put their minds to it,” Combs added. [3] The young mother also shares her experiences with postpartum depression on TikTok.
When Combs shared her experience on TikTok, she also touched on her struggles with postpartum depression, a topic that many mothers face in silence. Her openness about her mental health journey is just as important, as it sheds light on the challenges new mothers can go through and serves as a reminder that seeking help and sharing one’s struggles is a brave and essential step on the road to recovery.
Ultimately, the story of these Down syndrome twins and their remarkable mother is a reminder that every child is a unique and precious individual, regardless of any labels or statistics. Combs’ message of love, acceptance, and inclusion is a beacon of hope, showing that with the right attitude, any challenge can be faced and overcome, and every child can thrive and shine their own unique light into the world.