Alabama family welcomes two sets of twins in 13 months, featured on ‘Today’: ‘It’s a miracle’
Britney and Frankie Alba shared their story of welcoming two sets of identical twins born 13 months apart during NBC’s “Today” this week.
The parents and their children traveled from Tuscaloosa to Studio 1A in New York City, to talk about their experience and how they leaned on faith throughout. The Albas also were featured in a video interview that was combined with the studio segment.
“We met in high school at a church camp, just two kids miles and miles apart,” Frankie told Jenna Bush Hager via video. “For us to fast-forward and have twin babies now, it’s a miracle.”
The story said the couple first miscarried before having their twin boys, Levi and Luka, in 2021. And while their lives “flipped upside down,” that shock didn’t last long because, as Britney told Bush Hager, “Six months later, we’re pregnant again.”
NBC showed video from Britney’s routine ultrasound, during which you can hear a voice repeatedly exclaim “You are kidding me!” As monoamniotic twins, their girls, Lynlee and Lydia, are identical or semi-identical twins who shared the same amniotic sac within their mother’s uterus. UAB hospital admitted Britney at 25 weeks while Frankie took care of the boys at home.
Britney is a fourth-grade teacher at Holt Elementary while Frankie is a firefighter with the Tuscaloosa Fire Department. On work days, the story said, one set of twins is cared for by grandparents, while the other set goes to the other grandparents.
“Y’all amaze me,” a teary Hager Bush told the family. “I also have to tell you the luckiest thing that ever happened to me was I had a twin sister that I get to walk through life with. It’s the best gift.”
The parents credited a large support system, including their families and coworkers, for helping them through the process. Britney’s Holt Elementary colleagues, in particular, gave her a maternity leave she wouldn’t have otherwise gotten, when she only had two sick days. “My school system does this really cool thing where the teachers in the state of Alabama can donate their own sick days,” she said. “And that’s a sacrifice for them so that I had enough to be able to work and still pay for our insurance and everything.” Frankie noted his TFD colleagues also donated hours to him, warranting a shoutout on the air.
The family then emphasized their Christian faith as a guide through raising the two sets of twins. “If you know our family, you know two things: You know that 1) We’ve got a lot of children, and 2) We love Jesus. So all the glory and honor to the Lord.”
Hager Bush then revealed “Today,” via Bugaboo, gave the family two Donkey 5 strollers (rolled out by Al Roker!), and via Hello Bello, a year’s supply of diapers. “You are lying! Wow!” Britney said. “Thank y’all so much!”
Another highlight included co-host Sheinelle Jones delightfully wrangling their twin boys as they wandered on and off the set as the couple told their story.
Watch the “Today” video above.