Nine Little Miracles: The Story of the World’s First Surviving Nonuplets

In May 2021, the world witnessed a medical and maternal milestone. Halima Cissé, a young mother from Mali, gave birth to nine babies at once — five girls and four boys. Delivered by cesarean section at just 30 weeks in Morocco, the infants weighed between 500 grams and 1 kilogram each.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that Cissé’s pregnancy occurred naturally. Without fertility treatments or medical interventions to increase her chances of multiples, she carried nine children, defying all odds.

Doctors had prepared for the worst. Pregnancies involving even twins or triplets carry serious risks. Yet through expert medical care and extraordinary resilience, each of the nine newborns survived.

The event quickly captured worldwide attention. Guinness World Records officially recognized the birth as the most children ever delivered at once to survive.

At the time, the babies required weeks of specialized neonatal care. Their early days were fragile, a delicate balance of monitoring, feeding, and protecting them from infection. But with every gram gained and every breath strengthened, hope grew.

Today, the nonuplets are thriving. Surrounded by love, they are growing into healthy children, their lives a daily reminder of both scientific progress and the strength of family.

Their mother, once at the center of an almost unimaginable story, continues to inspire with her quiet resilience. Her journey reflects not only the power of medicine, but the boundless endurance of motherhood.

From Mali to Morocco and far beyond, the story of Halima Cissé and her nine little miracles continues to resonate — a living testament to courage, compassion, and the extraordinary possibilities of life.