McCaughey septuplets
The McCaughey Septuplets (Natalie, Joel, Kenny, Nathan, Brandon, Kelsey and Alexis McCaughey) are the world's first surviving set of septuplets. They were born in Des Moines, Iowa on November 19, 1997, nine weeks early, to Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey (pronounced "McCoy"), residents of the nearby town of Carlisle.The septuplets were conceived as the result of fertility drugs. When the couple discovered that Bobbi was carrying seven fetuses, they declined selective reduction to reduce the number of fetuses, saying that they would "put it in God's hands." As the result of being born prematurely, several of the septuplets have medical problems; for example, Alexis and Nathan have cerebral palsy.
The birth attracted significant media attention, both positive and negative. The McCaugheys were the recipients of many generous donations, including a 5,500 ft² (510 m²) house, a van and a lifetime supply of diapers. However the birth touched off a firestorm about the ethics of infertility treatments, particularly those resulting in multiple births.