Back in 1997, the world was amazed when Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey from Iowa welcomed a set of septuplets—seven babies born all at once. These tiny newborns arrived nine weeks early, making headlines across the globe as the first-ever surviving septuplets in history. Their story instantly captured hearts, and the media followed their journey closely from the beginning.
As the babies—Kenny Jr., Alexis, Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan, Brandon, and Joel—celebrated their first birthday, they were featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, each with their own birthday cake. They even got the chance to meet President Bill Clinton. For their parents, who already had a daughter named Mikayla, life became incredibly busy, managing eight children under one roof.
Raising septuplets came with enormous challenges. According to Obsev.com, on an average day, the babies went through 52 diapers and drank 42 bottles of milk. Thankfully, many generous people and companies stepped in to help. The family received donations that included a spacious 5,500-square-foot house, a van to transport the children, a year’s supply of Kraft macaroni and cheese, two years of diapers, and full college scholarships to any public university in Iowa.
Despite the support, the McCaugheys worked hard to be self-sufficient. They even began growing their own vegetables to help cut down on grocery costs. Among the seven children, Alexis and Nathan were diagnosed with cerebral palsy at an early age. Both required walkers to get around, and in 2005, Nathan underwent back surgery to improve his mobility. Since then, he has learned to walk without assistance, showing remarkable determination.
As they grew up, all seven children eventually graduated from high school and went on to pursue higher education. Natalie, Kelsey, Nathan, and Joel accepted scholarships to Hannibal-LaGrange University in Missouri. Meanwhile, Kenny Jr. and Alexis decided to stay close to home and attended Des Moines Area Community College. Brandon took a different path and joined the U.S. Army.
For many of them, college life was the first opportunity to experience independence. Kelsey shared in an interview with the Herald-Whig that going off to college allowed them to grow as individuals, a rare experience considering how close-knit they had always been. She explained that being separated gave each sibling the chance to discover their unique talents and career goals, and to step outside the identity of being part of a septuplet group.
Their older sister Mikayla married in 2015, making the septuplets aunts and uncles for the first time. Later, Natalie became the first among them to get married in 2019, followed by Brandon a few months afterward. Natalie shared that she plans to attend graduate school to become an athletic trainer, while Alexis, who studied early childhood education, dreams of working in an elementary school. Alexis has also participated in beauty pageants for individuals with special needs and won the Teen Miss Dreams Made True pageant in 2013.
Nathan, who is passionate about building computers, is majoring in computer information systems along with Joel, who hopes to one day work in cybersecurity at Google. Their bond as siblings remains strong, with Natalie describing them as best friends who are lucky to have each other’s constant support.
Now at 26 years old, these remarkable siblings are carving out their own paths and achieving great things. From education and military service to personal milestones like marriage, each of them is proving that they are more than just a part of a headline—they are individuals with dreams, talents, and bright futures.
Their journey is nothing short of extraordinary, and it’s heartwarming to see how far they’ve come. We wish all seven of them continued happiness and success in whatever directions their lives may take.
