On November 19, 1997, Bobbi and Kenny McCaughey made history when Bobbi gave birth to seven babies at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The four boys and three girls—Kenneth “Kenny” Robert, Alexis May, Natalie Sue, Kelsey Ann, Nathan Roy, Brandon James, and Joel Steven—were delivered by Caesarean section within approximately six minutes of one another, about nine weeks prematurely. Their birth weights ranged from roughly 2 pounds, 5 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces, and a large medical team was needed to care for them. Bobbi had become pregnant after fertility treatment with an ovulation-stimulating medication, and because carrying seven babies involved enormous medical risks, her pregnancy had attracted attention even before the delivery. The McCaugheys, who already had an older daughter named Mikayla, suddenly became internationally famous when all seven newborns survived. They became recognized as the world’s first known surviving set of septuplets, eventually earning recognition from Guinness World Records. President Bill Clinton called the family to congratulate them, they later appeared on *The Oprah Winfrey Show*, and donations poured in—including a large house, a van, clothing, diapers, and educational scholarships.
