Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 19, 1997, Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey of Carlisle welcomed the world’s first known surviving set of septuplets at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Kenny, Alexis, Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan, Brandon, and Joel were all born between 12:48 p.m. and 12:54 p.m. on the 19th.
After the birth of the couple’s first child, Mikayla, they sought to add to their family and underwent ovulation-stimulating Metrodin treatments for infertility. Under the care of Karen Drake and Paula Mahone, the couple declined selective reduction and moved toward a scheduled Cesarean section in November of 1997.
The Iowa community rallied around the family with many donations, and the President of the United States even called to congratulate them. A national phenomenon, the McCaughey parents worked to provide the children with as normal an upbringing as possible in the greater Des Moines metro area.
The McCaughey septuplets graduated from Carlisle High School in May 2016, and Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan, and Joel all attended Hannibal-LaGrange University. Kenny and Alexis attended Des Moines Area Community College, while Brandon enlisted with the United States Army. Happy Birthday, McCaugheys! #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
