Armed with a positive outlook and her family's support, Rachael gave birth to her two babies — Annette and Charlotte, or "Lottie" for short — at 35 weeks in February 2018.
Although giving birth to twins with Down syndrome wasn't something Cody and Rachael planned on, she doesn't think moms and dads should be instantly upset when they learn the news.
"I would love for all parents to know how lovely individuals with Down syndrome are BEFORE becoming expectant parents," she said. "If they knew how incredibly lucky they are to conceive a child with so much 'extra,' then perhaps we could discard the mourning that takes place so often at these diagnoses and more accurately replace it with celebration."
Her advice for parents who are expecting a child with Down syndrome? Reach out to other parents in the community for support. "I advise connecting with other parents, because collectively we agree that to have a child with Down syndrome is like discovering your best self and winning the lottery at the same time."
