Mom of Rare Identical Twins With Down Syndrome Silences the Haters With Love

The odds of having twins have risen by 72 percent since 1980, yet they remain uncommon — only about 33 out of every 1,000 births result in twins. Identical twins are even rarer, occurring in just three or four of every 1,000 births. So when 23-year-old Savannah Combs from Middleburg, Florida, learned she was expecting twins, she was thrilled. But soon, she received news that made her pregnancy even more extraordinary — both babies had Down syndrome.

The discovery was emotional and overwhelming. Savannah and her husband, Justin Ackerman, knew some people might judge them, but they decided their daughters were a blessing, not a burden. “It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” Savannah told News4JAX.

Savannah began sharing her journey online through TikTok, where she quickly gained a large, supportive following. Her videos, featuring her twin girls Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, document their milestones and joy-filled moments. In one clip, Savannah revealed that doctors had advised her to terminate the pregnancy because the babies might not survive. But she refused, determined to give them every chance at life. “Every appointment where they were still alive was a blessing to me,” she said.

When Savannah discovered both twins had Down syndrome, her husband was away at boot camp. At just 29 weeks pregnant, she went into early labor and delivered her girls on May 12, 2021. The twins, born two months premature, spent several weeks in the NICU before coming home healthy and strong.

“They’re called mono-di twins — that means they each had their own amniotic sac but shared the same placenta, so they’re identical,” Savannah explained. “Mono-di twins alone are very rare. Add Down syndrome, and it’s something like one in two million.”

Despite their condition, Savannah says her daughters are no different from other kids. “They have feelings. They have hearts that beat with love. They know how to communicate and learn in their own time. They’ll reach every goal — it just might take a little longer,” she shared. “These kids are strong-willed, determined, and full of happiness.”

Savannah’s social media pages overflow with adorable updates and moments of progress as her twins grow. Her mission is clear: to show the world that children with Down syndrome deserve love, respect, and opportunity. “I want my girls to know they can do anything they set their minds to,” she said.

Unfortunately, not everyone online has been kind. Savannah has faced cruel comments from strangers — one person even wrote, “I wouldn’t want those babies; if mine were born like that, I’d give them up for adoption.” Her response was calm, firm, and powerful:
“Good thing they weren’t born to you. They were born to me. God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave these babies to the right parents — parents who love them unconditionally.”

Her words struck a chord with thousands of followers, earning widespread praise for her grace and strength.

Savannah’s beautiful twins, Kennadi and Mckenli, are a reminder that love can silence judgment — and that every child, no matter their differences, deserves to be celebrated.