The parents of four-year-old twins, who died in a fire at their Eerste River home, say their boys are waiting for them in heaven.
Melissa, 32, and Earl Eksteen, 27, lost their sons E-Jay and Em-Jay after the upstairs bedroom they were playing in caught fire on Friday afternoon.
The boys and their three-year-old cousin, who survived and is in a serious condition at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, were playing with a lighter at the time.
Speaking to the Daily Voice from their home in Erica Street, Kleinvlei, on Monday, the couple said they still don’t know exactly how the fire was caused.
Melissa says someone came to tell her her sons had burnt.
“I thought maybe [they burnt] with hot water and I rushed to get to Eerste River Hospital. I was stopped at the gate and someone told me to prepare myself, as it’s really bad,” the mother says.
FAITHFUL: Earl and Melissa Eksteen share sons’ final hours. Photo: JACK LESTRADE
Earl was already inside and a counsellor prepared the mom before she walked into the theatre.
“They were completely bandaged. They were transferred to Red Cross. Em-Jay was in trauma and they told me they could do nothing for him,” says Melissa.
“I refused to have them switch off the machines. He had 100% burns and had inhaled the flames which had cooked his organs.
“He was morphined up, so he felt no pain. I stood and watched him, willing my son back to life, but at 8.07 pm on Friday, my boy was gone.”
Earl says brave little E-Jay fought for his life as they sat by his bed, talking to him and praying.
He says the boy’s heart rate slowed at 12.10 am on Saturday and doctors said he was gone. But then E-Jay’s heart rate was up again.
“My child was fighting for his life. He fought until he could not anymore and died at 1.45 am on Saturday,” Earl says.
He says his boys were inseparable.
“As I sat watching E-Jay, I swear I heard Em-Jay saying, ‘E-Jay, kom’.
“I turned and there was nothing there, but then Em-Jay left us. E-jay fought to stay, but he decided to go with his brother.”
Melissa, who has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, says the nurses and doctors were all crying.
“The staff at both Eerste River Hospital and the Red Cross were very helpful and made this a little easier with the compassion they showed myself and my family. We just want to thank them,” she says.
Earl says he knows his sons are in heaven.
“A congregant from our church had a revelation and says our boys are walking, running and playing on green grass.
“They walked off with a man clad in white. They are laughing and they are happy.
“I think our boys are challenging us to remain faithful until we can join them. We will be together again,” he says.
The boys will be laid to rest on Saturday, 2 February.