Identical Twins Are One-In-Five-Million After Both Are Born With Down Syndrome
When waiting for a new baby to arrive, most families are just concerned if their children are healthy. For this reason, not everyone chooses to undergo genetic screening before their babies are born. Justin Ackerman and Stephanie Combs from Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed twins into the world two months before their due date on May 12, 2021. They knew one of their babies might have a genetic disorder, but chose not to do the additional testing anyway. Baby girls Mckenli and Kennadi Ackerman were both born with Down syndrome, making them one in a million.
“They’re called mono di twins, meaning that they had their own sacs, but they shared the same placenta, meaning that they were going to be identical,” said Combs. “Mo di twins as it is, it’s like very rare. And then you throw Down syndrome on top of it, it’s like one in 2 million.”
Kennadi Rue and Mckenli are 5 months old now. They were born six weeks early and spent four weeks in the NICU.
Combs said while their condition is rare, they’re no different than anyone else.
“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,” said Combs.
Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman were born six weeks early and spent four weeks in the NICU. They are 5 months old now.
The twins are both incredibly adorable. Both girls are doing well and their parents couldn’t be happier. Combs also said that the twins are very different from one another. Apparently, Kennadi is a “ray of sunshine,” while Mckenli is “a total diva.”
These bundles of joy have gone viral on Tik-Tok. The twins’ Tik-Tok has more than 24,000 followers and one of their videos racked up 1.5 million views.
Combs wants to remind people — especially during Down Syndrome Awareness Month — that children with Down syndrome should not be treated less than.
“They’re just like us. I’m not going to treat them any differently because they have Down syndrome,” said Combs.
Currently, the twins go to speech, occupational and physical therapy weekly.
They’re continuing to meet all their important milestones — proving that no matter what the diagnosis, every child can thrive.
It isn’t easy raising a child whom you love deeply but who the world treats differently just because they look different. Parents who have kids with Down Syndrome know that their children are just like any other, but the negativity attached to the condition can be hard on families.
However, Combs and her family are attempting to smash the stigma and negativity surrounding raising children with Down Syndrome through their TikTok channel. We wish these beautiful girls and their wonderful family the best for their future!
Source:apost.com, news4jax.com
