They were the rarest triplets in the world, what they look like now brought tears to my eyes

Triplets can be what are known as Higher Order Multiples (HOM), which signifies more than two babies are being carried at one time. Although rare, it is entirely possible for women to conceive naturally with three babies.

However, fertility assistance is the strongest influential factor when it comes to having triplets. The current estimate is that around 80-90 sets of HOM babies are born each year. So if you’re pregnant with triplets, be reassured that you are not alone.

Triplets can be either monozygotic – meaning they are formed after one fertilized egg has split into three identical embryos, or they are dizygotic – meaning they are formed from separate eggs. Polyzygotic.

Triplets can also occur when there is a set of identical (or monozygotic) twins conceived + another egg is released which is then fertilized by another sperm. One very cute term which is used to describe the most common form of spontaneously conceived triplets – identical twins + a fraternal sibling is “A pair and a spare”.

This means that the identical twins are always the same gender and exactly the same DNA but the “spare” could potentially be of the opposite sex and share no more characteristics than any other sibling.

Of all triplet births, theirs is only the second known case in which two of the children came into the world as conjoined twins. Against all odds, Macy and Mackenzie survived the critical first days after being born

Unfortunately, their biological mother was unable to care for the children. They were therefore given over to the loving custody of Darla and Jeff Garrison. They were already the parents of three sons but were overjoyed at the chance to expand their family.

The decision was made to separate Mackenzie and Macy in order to give them both the chance to lead independent lives.

To make the operation easier, their skin had to first be stretched with skin expanders. In a 24-hour-long, high-risk procedure, the nine-month-old girls were separated with great care and precision. Happily, the operation was a complete success. Mackenzie and Macy were each left with only one leg; but with the help of custom-made prosthetics, it’s no problem for them. Physiotherapy will help them later to get around without assistance. What is much more important: both are alive!

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