The world's only surviving quintuplets celebrated their fourth birthday (16 photos)
When Malian couple Halima Cissé and Abdelkader Arbi learned they were expecting not one, not two, but seven children, it came as a shock to them and the world. But then something incredible happened: Halima gave birth to nine babies, and all of them survived. It was a historic moment. Five girls and four boys made it into the Guinness Book of Records because it was the first time doctors had recorded a case where all nine children born in one birth survived. 
The family spent the first 19 months of their children's lives in Morocco. There, the babies received highly specialized neonatal care. Afterwards, they returned home to Mali. The whole world continues to follow their fate with trepidation. The ninths recently turned four years old. 
The birth took place in one of the Moroccan clinics, where Halima was sent at the expense of the Malian government 
The woman had a cesarean section at 30 weeks pregnancy 
The couple were told that they would have seven children. However, during the birth, doctors discovered two more babies 
Each baby weighed less than 500 grams 
The chances of survival were negligible, the babies spent several months 
Their names? Qadidia, Fatuma, Hawa, Adama, Umu, Mohammed VI, Umar, Elhadji and Ba — five girls and four boys 
They are energetic, playful and already showing characters 
Their fourth birthday party was magical, with balloons, cakes, and nine sparkling smiles 
The children are healthy and happy, they grow up surrounded by love and support 
