Not one. Not Two. Not even three. But six. Six babies surprised an obstetrician and a set of parents during their delivery 18 years ago, making history.
Even though the predisposition for twins runs in her family, nurse Diamond Harris of Alabama never could have anticipated the big news that awaited them at the time of delivery. They thought they were welcoming five babies, but instead delivered six!
While she did take fertility drugs after struggling to get pregnant for two years, she and her now ex-husband Chris, a teacher, could not believe their fate. They were expecting multiples!
Diamond ended up delivering four boys and two girls by cesarean section at 26.5 weeks’ gestation after developing a blood clot on her lung. All of the babies were able to breathe on their own. Their weights ranged from 1 pound and 3 ounces to 1 pound and 12 ounces.
The babies were whisked off to the neonatal intensive care unit. However, Diamond and Chris were advised to be guarded for good reason. The little sweethearts remained there for almost three months.
“Kaleb worried me. Because he was like transparent almost. I could see his organs. I could see his veins and I was really, really worried.”
The sextuplets’ older brother Dewayne was excited about the sextuplets’ arrival. He had some apprehension though…
“All he wanted to know is how many Pampers he had to change.”
Ultimately, the babies blew through 60 diapers and two cases of formula every single day. The couple washed 20 loads of laundry each week and spent $1,100 each week on groceries.
As the kids grew older, that grocery bill still remained pretty steep and the laundry never seemed to end. But all too soon, it will disappear in the blink of an eye.
The amazing history-making Harris sextuplets now have surpassed another milestone. They officially are high school graduates!
The siblings graduated from Center Point High School in Birmingham and are looking forward to their next step. With their sights set on the future, Kiera and Kobe will attend Lawson State Community College where Kiera will study cosmetology.
CONGRATULATIONS! 🎉🎓
The Harris family sextuplets will be graduating from Center Point High tonight!Kalynne & Kobe are going to @ASUHornetNation, Kaleb & Kieran to @aamuedu, Kiera to @LawsonStateCC, and Kyle will be doing life skills at Center Point High!
📸: Chris Harris pic.twitter.com/VclBE1nr7j
— #WVTM13 (@WVTM13) June 2, 2020
Kaylynne will attend Alabama State University and study physical therapy. Kaleb and Kieran will attend Alabama A&M where Kaleb will major in computer science and Kieran will study art.
Kyle, who has autism, will engage in a life skills program.
Their parents snapped a photo of the sextuplets wearing their caps and gowns together on the big day. Full of excitement for their future, it will be strange not having the sextuplets all under one roof, the parents lamented
“These kids have been my life for almost 18 years. They have been my reason. I keep reminding myself it’s just going to be different, but everything will be OK.”
It’s definitely been an emotional rollercoaster over the past near-two decades.
“The morning of the ceremony, I sat in bed looking at their baby pictures and felt depressed. It’s going to be too quiet.”
Once tiny enough to fit inside the palm of their dad’s hand, the sextuplets are now strong young adults who will turn 18 in July, yet another huge milestone to celebrate.
Then in August, they will head off to college, spreading their wings and soaring.
See the once tiny babies for yourself in the video below. Congratulations to the Harris sextuplets! We wish them lots of luck in their future endeavors.
