First Black sextuplets in U.S. born to Washington, D.C., couple

Jet, June 2, 1997

The country's first Black sextuplets were recently born to Jacqueline and Linden Thompson of Washington, D.C., and they are looking forward to the challenge of raising them.

"The Lord don't give you more than you can handle," said Mrs. Thompson, who set a U.S. record for the longest sextuplet pregnancy at 29 weeks and six days.

Looking ahead, Mr. Thompson, who was also overjoyed at the birth of the sextuplets, said he saw a lot of double shifts" in the future.

Sadly, one of the children, a daughter, was stillborn. But the five survivors, four girls, Octavia Daniela, Stella Kimberly, Ann Marie Amanda, and Emily Elizabeth and one boy, Richard Linden, are doing well at Georgetown University Medical Center. Doctors said they have no major health problems. They each weighed between 2 pounds, 2 ounces and 2 pounds, 6 ounces and were delivered by Caesarean section.

The children will probably remain in the hospital until the end of June or early July.