Two weeks after losing her home and all her belongings in a fire, a 34-year-old pregnant mother, with nothing but the clothes on her back, gave birth to a beautiful little boy weighing just under 2kg.
Three homes were gutted in the blaze at 3B Pecos Walk in Manenberg on 29 June.
Little Luke Petersen, born prematurely at 34 weeks on 8 July, now lives with his aunt in a container in the front yard of their burnt out home.
Aunt Bronwyn Jones, 30, says Luke’s mom Nicolette Petersen is homeless and not able to take care of him right now.
After the fire, a devastated Nicolette told the Daily Voice she had lost all her new baby clothes for her unborn son.
Bronwyn, who is married with two daughters, says she did not hesitate to take in Luke after she and her sister lost everything in the fire.
JOY IN AGONY: Bronwyn Jones with little Luke. Photo: Tracey Adams/ANA Pictures
She says Luke, dressed in clothes that’s too big for him, has been with them since last week “and sleeps a lot”.
She finds it “amazing” that the tiny baby survived after spending a week in an incubator.
“We have lost so much and live in a container. We have almost nothing at all, but Luke survived. He is a fighter. He was a gift after everything we have lost,” says Bronwyn.
If you would like to assist the family, you can visit them at 3B Pecos Walk or contact the Daily Voice on 021 488 4729.