361:
If we emerge momentarily from the privacy we have sought all our adult lives, it is only to send a message to the McCaughey family. We three would like you to know we feel a natural affinity and tenderness for your children. We hope your children receive more respect than we did. Their fate should be
365:
Our lives have been ruined by the exploitation we suffered at the hands of the government of
Ontario, our place of birth. We were displayed as a curiosity three times a day for millions of tourists. To this day we receive letters from all over the world. To all those who have expressed their support
324:
magazine in
December 1997. "In the beginning, for every ten letters we would get that were happy for us, we'd get one letter accusing us of exploiting the kids and being selfish to waste the world's resources on a family this big," said Bobbi in a 2007 interview. "Our neighbors never gawked. Here in
431:
In 2017, the septuplets became aunts and uncles when their sister
Mikayla gave birth to a son after getting married in 2015. In May 2019, Natalie was the first of the septuplets to get married. Brandon also got married in August 2019. By the end of 2022, when the septuplets turned 25, Brandon and
391:. Bobbi McCaughey has noted that the level of media attention does not necessarily mean they have granted many interviews, saying, "There was all kinds of stuff in the papers early on but they never actually interviewed us. Most of it is one paper quoting another".
353:
warning the parents to keep the septuplets out of the public eye and not allow them to fall into the same pitfalls as their parents did, but they congratulated Bobbi and Kenny and wished them the best of luck in raising the children. The letter reads as follows:
369:
We sincerely hope a lesson will be learned from examining how our lives were forever altered by our childhood experience. If this letter changes the course of events for these newborns, then perhaps our lives will have served a higher purpose.
419:
The septuplets graduated from
Carlisle High School in May 2016. Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan and Joel took up scholarships offered by Hannibal-LaGrange University. Kenny and Alexis chose to stay in the Des Moines area and attend
328:
The McCaugheys were the recipients of many donations, including a 5,500 ft² (511 m) house, a van, nanny services, clothes, and diapers for the first two years. The State of Iowa offered full college scholarships to any
398:
events and continue to oppose selective reduction. Bobbi has been quoted as saying, "Well, come to our house, and tell me which four I shouldn't have had!" The family continues to attend a
Baptist church in
560:
510:
1072:
933:"After 10 years, new adventures for septuplets: The McCaughey family goes to Spain and the world's first surviving septuplets cope with life getting more complex"
694:
1164:
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no different from that of other children. Multiple births should not be confused with entertainment, nor should they be an opportunity to sell products.
837:
542:
779:
366:
in light of the abuse we have endured, we say thank you. And to those who would seek to exploit the growing fame of these children, we say beware.
377:
By the septuplets' tenth birthday in 2007, the family was declining most requests for interviews, other than annual stories with the Des Moines
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Carlisle they gave us privacy. But we had complete strangers come around to the back door, knock, and ask if they could hold a baby."
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133:. The McCaugheys have one older daughter, Mikayla Marie, born January 3, 1996. While under treatment with ovulation-stimulating
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to get around, and in
November 2005, Nathan had spinal surgery in order to improve his walking abilities.
400:
145:
primarily responsible for the medical care of Bobbi and the babies were Karen Drake and Paula Mahone.
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The birth attracted significant media attention, both positive and negative, including a feature in
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838:"The world's first surviving septuplets are getting ready to celebrate their 23rd birthday"
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478:"World's first set of surviving septuplets to turn 18: See the McCaughey family on Today"
452:
602:
Lemonick, Michael D.; Cole, Wendy; Fedarko, Kevin; Graff, James L. (December 1, 1997).
303:
134:
130:
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Kenny McCaughey (b. 1969) and Bobbi McCaughey (b. 1968), were residents of the town of
1123:
983:"Remember the world's first surviving septuplets? Here's how they are 22 years later"
395:
142:
141:
to reduce the number of infants, saying that they would "put it in God's hands". The
1104:
ed by
William J. Taverner and Robert T. Francoeur, McGraw-Hill (2000), pages 123–130
937:
342:
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The babies' names, birth weight, time of birth, and order of birth are as follows:
137:
for infertility, Bobbi became pregnant with seven babies. The McCaugheys declined
635:
350:
341:, also offered full scholarships to the children when they were born. President
1047:"The McCaughey septuplets turn 21 — here's how they're celebrating the big day"
114:
1027:"4 of the McCaughey Septuplets Start College at Hannibal-LaGrange University"
672:
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personally telephoned the McCaugheys to congratulate them. The surviving
815:
407:. In 2010, for the septuplets' 13th birthday, a documentary was made by
148:
The septuplets, four boys and three girls, were born prematurely at the
1101:
Taking Sides: Clashing Views on
Controversial Issues in Human Sexuality
152:
in Des Moines on
November 19, 1997. They were delivered by a scheduled
1115:
Iowa
Methodist Medical Center press release discharging the septuplets
864:
Dionne, Yvonne; Allard, Annette; Langlois, Cecile (December 1, 1997).
942:
585:
404:
890:
Dionne, Annette; Dionne, Cecile; Dionne, Yvonne (December 1, 1997).
1073:"What are the McCaughey septuplets doing now? Here's a quick look"
896:
382:
156:, attended by a team of 40 specialists, all within six minutes.
121:. They are the world's first known set of surviving septuplets.
378:
349:(Yvonne Dionne, Annette Allard, and Cecile Langlois) wrote an
105:
102:
1114:
549:. 16 April 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2003.
661:"Iowan Makes U.S. History, Giving Birth to 7 Live Babies"
333:
in Iowa upon the children's graduation from high school.
93:
455:, mother of the first known nonuplets to survive infancy
700:. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale Group. p. 286.
636:"CNN - Doctors deliver septuplets - November 19, 1997"
99:
16:
First set of surviving septuplets in recorded history
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African American Firsts in Science & Technology
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61:
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21:
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559:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (
511:"4 Boys, 3 Girls And 6 Minutes: Septuplets Born"
780:"World's first surviving septuplets to turn 18"
597:
595:
356:
302:Two of the septuplets, Alexis and Nathan, have
449:, the first known octuplets to survive infancy
578:"Eight is great for the McCaughey septuplets"
373:Sincerely, Annette, Cécile and Yvonne Dionne.
8:
730:"See The McCaughey Septuplets All Grown Up!"
504:
502:
500:
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1009:"McCaughey septuplets graduate high school"
812:"The McCaughey Family is Completely Normal"
394:Bobbi and Kenny both occasionally speak at
18:
945:on June 17, 2013 – via NBCNews.com.
866:"Open letter from the Dionne quintuplets"
509:Pressley, Sue Anne (November 20, 1997).
161:
859:
857:
757:"Septuplets' mom recalls 'terror,' joy"
572:
570:
471:
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57:First known set of surviving septuplets
923:
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117:born to Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey in
7:
981:M’bwana, Lloyd (December 11, 2019).
892:"Advice from the Dionne Quintuplets"
810:Mungons, Kevin (November 1, 2007).
476:Stump, Scott (September 16, 2015).
814:. Baptist Bulletin. Archived from
659:Belluck, Pam (November 20, 1997).
584:. January 15, 2006. Archived from
543:"Bobbi McCaughey's Weekly Journal"
293:2 lb 15 oz (1.3 kg)
276:2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg)
225:2 lb 10 oz (1.2 kg)
208:2 lb 11 oz (1.2 kg)
14:
1165:American people with disabilities
422:Des Moines Area Community College
259:3 lb 3 oz (1.4 kg)
242:2 lb 5 oz (1.0 kg)
191:3 lb 4 oz (1.5 kg)
125:Background, conception and birth
86:
836:Louise, Scrivens (2020-09-18).
1007:Haley, Charly (May 22, 2016).
957:"America's Septuplets Turn 13"
424:, and Brandon enlisted in the
113:; born November 19, 1997) are
1:
759:. NBC News. November 26, 1997
718:– via Internet Archive.
150:Iowa Methodist Medical Center
1150:People from Des Moines, Iowa
692:Webster, Raymond B. (1999).
604:"Septuplets: It's a Miracle"
335:Hannibal–LaGrange University
778:Brown, Ciara (2015-09-16).
1181:
1160:People with cerebral palsy
1155:People from Carlisle, Iowa
432:Kenny had become fathers.
403:, where Kenny serves as a
314:Media and public response
71:Bobbi McCaughey (mother)
68:Kenny McCaughey (father)
1077:The Des Moines Register
1013:The Des Moines Register
442:List of multiple births
411:chronicling the event.
194:Kenneth (Kenny) Robert
375:
358:Dear Bobbi and Kenny,
931:(December 12, 2007).
401:West Des Moines, Iowa
381:television affiliate
616:on February 11, 2012
388:Ladies' Home Journal
82:McCaughey septuplets
23:McCaughey septuplets
588:on August 12, 2013.
139:selective reduction
1053:. 20 November 2018
1035:. August 28, 2016.
665:The New York Times
426:United States Army
347:Dionne quintuplets
339:Hannibal, Missouri
1135:American children
735:Good Housekeeping
707:978-0-7876-3876-4
447:Suleman octuplets
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154:Caesarean section
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39:November 19, 1997
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875:February 22,
873:. Retrieved
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618:. Retrieved
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296:Joel Steven
228:Natalie Sue
174:Birth weight
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1130:1997 births
961:TVGuide.com
415:Later lives
351:open letter
306:. Both use
262:Nathan Roy
245:Kelsey Ann
211:Alexis May
165:Baby order
1124:Categories
1082:2023-03-12
929:Curry, Ann
847:2023-07-26
822:2007-11-05
789:2021-07-21
742:2016-12-24
678:2021-05-22
645:2021-05-22
528:2021-05-22
460:References
115:septuplets
35:1997-11-19
1051:Today.com
908:March 10,
763:April 18,
673:0362-4331
523:0190-8286
487:April 18,
716:41238505
582:NBC News
555:cite web
436:See also
135:Metrodin
1057:Mar 27,
966:May 23,
842:Newsner
308:walkers
62:Parents
1032:People
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671:
521:
405:deacon
171:Gender
48:, U.S.
482:Today
337:, in
177:Name
1059:2020
994:2021
968:2021
910:2013
897:TIME
877:2021
870:Time
784:WSLS
765:2017
712:OCLC
702:ISBN
669:ISSN
622:2021
609:Time
561:link
519:ISSN
489:2017
385:and
383:KCCI
321:Time
239:Girl
222:Girl
205:Girl
80:The
29:Born
409:TLC
379:CBS
290:Boy
273:Boy
256:Boy
188:Boy
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