An Amazing Mom Delivered A Set Of Septuplets in 1997, Where Are They Now?

Kenny and Bobby McCaughey welcomed seven cute babies into their family on the 19th of November, 1997. And even though there had already been other cases of septuplets being born, this group of babies marked history because they were the first set of septuplets that was able to survive. The McCaughey septuplets managed to survive and live, and they were now in their ’20s. The names of these seven angels were Nathan, Brandon, Natalie, Alexis, Kelsey, Joel, and Kenny Jr. In this article, we would explore more about the lives of these fantastic septuplets.

Then, there were seven.

Both Kenny and Bobby McCaughey wanted to have another baby for 21 months after their eldest child had been born. The couple decided to have Bobbi take fertility drugs, and these drugs were created and used to enhance women’s reproductive fertility. It would aid and assist in increasing the chances of pregnancy. Bobbi was able to have seven embryos in her womb because of the fertility drugs. It could not be avoided that there would be some worries and difficulties that they would face, mainly because the septuplets had been born earlier than the supposed date and time of labor. All of the seven babies weighed from 2.5 ounces up to 4 ounces. We tried converting it to pounds and found out that their weights ranged from 0.15 pounds to 0.25 pounds. The septuplets were born small and light.

Complications In Health

And on the 19th of November 1997, the McCaughey’s marked their names in history. The septuplets were delivered and born safely. However, most of the babies had complications and were unhealthy. It was something that everyone expected because carrying seven babies inside the womb for months was something very precarious. They all made sure that all of their children were treated from their diseases, and they stayed by the side of their babies. Nathan McCaughey was ill with spastic diplegia. It was an illness that made someone’s lower body, specifically the legs, stiff and tight. On the other hand, Alexis McCaughey was diagnosed with hypotonic quadriplegia. It was a condition in which someone’s muscles would be so relaxed that any type of movement would become too exhausting and challenging. The rest of the babies were suffering from a series of intense reflux during their early days.

Support From All Over The World

The McCaughey family marked themselves in history by giving birth to septuplets, and they made it to the headlines of different newspapers, tabloids, and other various publications. The McCaughey couple shared how they received loving support from all over the world. It was no exaggeration that they received thousands of letters coming from different parts of the globe and reached their lovely house in Carlisle, Iowa. Most of the letters were written to support while there were a few who sent their adverse reactions. The majority of the letters showed how happy they were for the couple and how they would willingly support them, and yet, there were still some who merely contained negative feedback. There were even some who said that the McCaughey family was taking advantage of the resources because they built a huge family. However, we were all aware that we could not please everyone, and that not everyone would support and love us. The incident that happened to them after a few weeks shook them up.

A Call From President Clinton

Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey received a phone call from President Bill Clinton, one of the most iconic personalities in the United States. The 42nd president of the United States cleared some of his time to call the couple from the White House. President Bill Clinton expressed his support to the McCaughey couple and showed them how amazed he was that they managed to raise the septuplets together. The president had congratulated the two and extended an invitation for the whole family to stop by the White House.

They Were Granted Scholarship

There were all sorts of people who showed their support to the McCaughey family. Some were from the private sectors while some were from the public. Most of the donations they received were diapers and other stuff that were essential to the newborn septuplets. The fact that different universities and colleges were willing to extend scholarships to the septuplets made the couple even happier. Hannibal-LaGrange University, a private four-year Christian liberal arts college in Missouri, offered Nathan, Brandon, Natalie, Alexis, Kelsey, Joel, and Kenny Jr. full scholarships and were just waiting for the septuplets to study for college. Also, Iowa decided to grant the septuplets full scholarships to any state universities of their liking once they reach college. 

A Massive Donation

Both Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey were motivated because of all the donations that they had gotten from various people, organizations, and even companies. Gerber Products Company was an American provider of baby food and products. The company donated a lot of packages that contained baby food, which could last them a year. Procter & Gamble was an American multinational consumer goods corporation. The company donated access to a lifetime supply of diapers. Aside from that, the company donated grocery supplies that could last them for one year. All of these were given on top of the bank donations and family van. The neighbors of the couple and the other families that lived in Carlisle, Iowa, also showed their support and started fundraisers for the McCaughey family.

The First Daughter

We had already mentioned that both Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey already had the first child before they gave birth to the seven babies. Mikayla Marie McCaughey was their loveable and adorable daughter. Mikayla had just turned two years of age when her seven other siblings were born into the world. Even though the eldest child was still young, she tried her best to be the best sister to all of her siblings and helped her parents. Mikayla Marie assisted her parents by playing with her siblings to entertain them. The eldest also pacified and fed her younger siblings and even held their baby bottles for them. Mikayla was indeed adorable. Mikayla Marie had already gotten married last 2017 and had given birth to her first child, Beckham. She was now residing in the state of Kansas.

Their Album Was Released

Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey decided to come up with various ways to raise income to raise all of their kids. It was then that they decided to ask for help. And with the guidance of Wes Yoder, the couple’s media and spiritual advisor, the two decided to release an album filled with lullabies. They titled the album The McCaughey’s Septuplets’ Sweet Dreams. Wes Yoder was also the president of the Ambassador Artist Agency at that time, which made the process easier. Some different artists and personalities sang most of the lullabies and donated 50 percent of their earnings to the McCaughey family. Kathie Lee Gifford, an American TV presenter, together with other artists, decided to work on the Christian music industry to sing a few songs. Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey also sang one of the songs that were included in the album.

Launched A Book

The couple also discovered another way so that they could gain some more money. Once again, their media and spiritual advisor helped them to publish a book which would note all about their journeys as a family. The book was about how the McCaughey family began, and it focused on the birth of the septuplets – Nathan, Brandon, Natalie, Alexis, Kelsey, Joel, and Kenny Jr. It was a good thing that the book gained a lot of sales, and they wished that the book would inspire the other families when the readers read their book.

House for Sale

When all of the septuplets grew up into young adults, Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey decided that it was time for them to move into a smaller house compared to their previous one. Their former house had seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, which measured a total of 5,500 feet squared. Their old home would be changed to a house that would provide shelter and support to young girls who experienced an unplanned pregnancy. It became possible, and it was thanks to Ruth Harbor Ministries, a non-profit organization. The couple now lived in a simpler house with three bedrooms.

The Funniest

The eldest of the McCaughey septuplets were Kenny McCaughey Jr. The people around Kenny Jr. claimed that he was and would always be the funniest and craziest one among the bunch. Kenny Jr. shared his experiences about having a big family the moment he turned 18 years old. He mentioned that because he had a lot of siblings, he never felt alone and that he always had someone who would listen and talk to him anytime he needed. Kenny Jr. used to live with the McCaughey couple when he went to Des Moines Area Community College. He decided to choose a course that was related to building trades.

Musically-Inclined

Kelsey McCaughey was the one who was inclined in music. Kelsey enjoyed anything that was related to it. When she studied college, she decided to accept the offer from Hannibal-LaGrange University for a full scholarship. Kelsey decided to take a course on public relations. It was a communication science that dealt with how to deliver information from an authoritative figure to a specific audience. Kelsey had been asked in an interview about how she felt when she had to move into the dormitory and not live with her parents when she went to college. Kelsey McCaughey admitted that it was difficult, especially because she had to adapt to the new college environment. Thankfully, Kelsey managed to adjust to college life.

The Most Studious

Natalie McCaughey was deemed to be the most serious about studying amongst the septuplet siblings. Natalie mentioned that even her other siblings and parents were aware of the fact that she was the one who was the most serious when the topic was related to school. Since the day that Natalie McCaughey began to attend school and up until she reached college, Natalie spent most of her time studying and working on her assignments. Natalie McCaughey, together with some of her other siblings, decided to accept the scholarship offer from Hannibal-LaGrange University, and she studied exercise science. It was also here that she met her husband, Shawn Geralds, and they had gotten married in May 2019.

Computer Guru

Nathan McCaughey was also among those who accepted the full scholarship that was offered by Hannibal-LaGrange University. Nathan McCaughey shared in an interview that since he began to be aware of everything, it was computers that had always fascinated him. Nathan loved anything that was related to computers, and this inspired him to take a course in Computer Information Systems at Hannibal-LaGrange University.

The Bibliophile

Joel McCaughey was also similar to Nathan, who always loved computers. However, aside from this, Joel was also a bibliophile and loved reading books. When the time came for him to start attending college, he decided to accept the full scholarship granted by the Hannibal-LaGrange University that was offered to them even though they were still babies. Similar to Nathan, Joel McCaughey also took up a course on Computer Information Systems

The Cheerleader

Alexis McCaughey would be the next one we would talk about. Alexis had been aware of hypotonic quadriplegia, the illness that she had suffered from when she was born. It was why Alexis McCaughey was so delighted when she had been accepted in the cheerleading squad during high school. Every member of the McCaughey family was surely proud of the cheerleader and the improvements that they had noticed while she was undergoing treatment. Alexis McCaughey also accepted the full scholarship offered by Hannibal-LaGrange University. The cheerleader chose to major in Education.

Vicious and Defiant

Brandon McCaughey was quite different from the rest of his brothers and sisters. Brandon McCaughey decided to devote his time to serving the country. Brandon McCaughey enlisted and served in the United States Army Infantry the moment he was finished with high school. He had traveled to different parts of the world and frequently located because of the path that he had chosen. He had gotten married to Alana Hale in August 2019.

The Phenomenal Mother

Bobbi McCaughey was the sensational mother who marked her name in history as the one who successfully gave birth to a set of septuplets. Bobbi McCaughey had been interviewed about the adjustments and changes that the couple had to go through when all their children moved out after they started attending college. She commented on how the living environment in their home changed, and it was not only because they moved to a smaller house. There was no time when the couple did not miss their children. She confessed that the adjustments that they had to do were a bit difficult for her. However, when Bobbi McCaughey saw how successful her children were and that they excelled in the fields they had chosen, it made it a little easier for her to handle. The mother of the septuplets was surely happy for her children, and now she had more time to reconnect with her husband after all those years that they focused on raising the children. She was now a grandmother to Beckham, Mikayla Marie’s son.

The Committed Dad

And while it was true that multiple blessings came when the septuplets came into his life, it did not change the fact that Kenny McCaughey made huge sacrifices. He had to quit his job as a Billing Clerk for Chevrolet. Kenny thought it would be difficult to leave because he had been working there for quite a few years already. However, he had to accept the fact that he needed a job that would let him juggle his time with his children and also the media exposure that they were receiving. In the end, Kenny pursued being a Public Speaker. Kenny McCaughey received multiple invitations from various inspirational events, interviews, and press conferences. Kenny McCaughey shared in one of his interviews how emotional he had been the moment his babies were delivered and born. He was now a deacon at the church in Iowa, where he married Bobbi.

Support For Other Multiples

Kevin and Bobbi McCaughey had experienced a lot of hardships by being parents to their children. It was for this reason that they decided to devote their time to helping the other parents who were in similar situations. And they extended their help to those with multiple children. One of the couples that Kevin and Bobbi helped was Mark and Jeannette Zimlich. The two resided in Mobile, Alabama. Jeannette had been pregnant with quintuplets. It was then that Kevin and Bobbi decided to do everything they could to reach out to other people for donations in different forms. Some had donated money, and there were also baby essentials, and a whole lot more. Even nowadays, Kevin and Bobbi McCaughey still extended their assistance to coupled who needed help.