Mali – It’s a joyful milestone for Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arby, the proud parents of the world’s only surviving nonuplets, as their nine little miracles turn four today.

The nonuplets include brothers Mohammed VI, Elhadji, Oumar, and Bah, and sisters Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama, and Oumou.

They made history on May 4, 2021 when they became the first set of nine children to survive from a single birth, the Guinness World Records reports.

Their extraordinary arrival earned a place in the Guinness World Records for the most children delivered at a single birth to survive.

To mark this special day, the family shared new heartwarming photos of the children, who are now full of life and personality, alongside their six-year-old elder sister, Arby.

The images reflect the vibrant and close-knit family they have grown into.

“They have grown so much since their last birthday, and the change is visible in them all,” said Halima, beaming with pride.

The 29-year-old mother disclosed that for their fourth birthday, she and her husband decided to celebrate in a grandiose way, as a celebrity would.

Born prematurely at 30 weeks via C-section in Morocco, the nonuplets weighed between 0.5 and 1 kg each.

Halima was expected to give birth to seven babies, but an ultrasound did not detect two more babies in her womb.

The lovers received the surprise news of two additional babies after the Malian government flew them to a specialist clinic in Morocco for advanced care.

“We started with seven, and Allah blessed us with nine,” Abdelkader recalled.

Given the high-risk nature of the birth, Halima and the babies remained in Morocco for 19 months, under the constant care of a dedicated team of medical professionals.

The family lived in a specially equipped apartment to support the children’s fragile early development before finally returning home to Mali.

The Cissé-Arby nonuplets also share the overall title of most children delivered at a single birth with Geraldine Brodrick of Australia, who gave birth to nine babies in 1971.

Sadly, none of those children survived, making the survival of Halima's children a truly unprecedented feat.

The news excited many people, especially in Africa, with most social media users terming it a blessing in 'fertile.'

Four years on, the nonuplets continue to thrive – a living testament to medical advancement, parental devotion, and perhaps, a little divine intervention.

Happy birthday to these nine bundles of joy – the world continues to watch your incredible journey with awe and admiration!

Source: TUKO.co.ke