Rare Identical Twins with Down Syndrome Are Called “Little Gems” by Their Proud Mom

While the likelihood of giving birth to twins has risen significantly—up by 72% between 1980 and 2018—twin births remain relatively uncommon. Today, about 33 out of every 1,000 births are twins, with only three to four of those being identical twins. That’s already rare.

But what happened to 23-year-old Savannah Combs of Middleburg, Florida, was even more extraordinary. She found out she was pregnant with identical twin girls—and then came even rarer news: both of her babies had Down syndrome.

Despite the emotional weight of the diagnosis and knowing the world can be judgmental, Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, chose love, hope, and resilience. She decided to share their journey openly on TikTok, where her daughters quickly captured hearts across the platform.

Savannah Refused to Give Up on Her Babies

Savannah revealed in one TikTok video that doctors had advised her to consider terminating her pregnancy. But she couldn’t imagine giving up on her babies.

“Every appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” she explained.

While her husband was away at boot camp, Savannah carried their daughters until 29 weeks. She was admitted to the hospital early and gave birth to her twin girls—Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman—on May 12, 2021.

Born Premature, but Full of Fight

Born two months early, the twins spent several weeks in the NICU before they were healthy enough to go home.

“They’re called mono-di twins,” Savannah explained. “It means they had their own sacs but shared the same placenta, so they’re identical.”

“Mo-di twins as it is—it’s very rare. Then you throw Down syndrome on top of it, and it’s like one in 2 million.”

Savannah Champions Their Abilities

While the girls’ condition is medically unique, Savannah is quick to point out that her daughters are just like any other children—with milestones, emotions, and endless determination.

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