BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — More than two decades ago, African-American sextuplets were born at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.
It’s their 21st birthday on July 7. To see how they’re doing and what their future holds, we sat down with their family.
The first surviving set of African-American sextuplets in the entire United States were born in Birmingham at UAB Hospital over two decades ago. This week, they will celebrate their 21st birthday together. @sarah3340 has more on the story.https://t.co/jdFGRgkpAg
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) July 6, 2023
The birth of any baby is a miracle. That miracle happened six times for Diamond Harris-Canty and Chris Harris on July 7, 2002.
It was tough those first few years. In her opinion, UAB helped them get all six on a schedule and help them with classes.
“All babies cry and when all of them cry – you have a nervous breakdown,” Diamond Harris-Canty, their mom said. “I’ve had moments where I’ve had to go to the bathroom and cry myself or sit down next to them and cry and they look at me like what’s wrong with you?”
Every thing multiplied by six: diapers, formula, grocery bills. Community help was key, she says.
” People showing up, helping, asking if we needed anything – it’s been great,” Harris-Canty said.
“Everybody is just everywhere basically – you never get bored at that house!” Kalynne Harris told us.
They caught us up on their lives as 21-year-olds: Kalynne, Kiera, Kaleb, Kobe, Kieran, and Kyle.
Kalynne studies radiology at UAB/Jeff State program. Kiera graduated cosmetology school and works at a kids’ salon. Currently a senior at Alabama A&M, Kieran is a visual arts major.
“We have this bond no one can understand,” Kieran Harris said.
Kaleb is a junior at Alabama A&M studying marine biology.
“We’re pretty much like any normal siblings: we fight, we get along, and we have each other’s backs,” he said.
Kobe’s working on his barber license.
“Those drives on the way back home all I can think about is seeing my family,” Kobe Harris said.
Kyle works at Center Point High School, his alma mater.
“We’ve been close – a real close bond,” Kiera Harris said.
The bond between them is incredible. There’s even a special sibling language between them.
“They would just sit up and talk to each other and laugh and I’d be like did you get that joke?” Harris-Canty said.
It’s sometimes a little too close for comfort!
“Ooh that was hard! Kalynne said. “Every time I bring a boyfriend over they’d all be downstairs looking like this! Who is that? What he do?”
Now that their nest is empty, their mom says they’ve become stronger adults, and family time is even sweeter when they’re together all the time. Sextuplets that once fit in their parents’ hands are now ready to take on the world.
“I look back, I look at the old pictures and I just thank God because they are wonderful, phenomenal,” Harris-Canty said. “They’re handsome young men and beautiful young women and I still can’t believe how much they’ve grown and how much they teach me.”
This weekend, the sextuplets are going to New York City to celebrate their 21st birthday with their mom.
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