Community members have come together to raise just under R40 0000 through a Back-a-Buddy campaign for the Engelbrecht family.
Their 21-month-old toddler Ellané suffered severe burns on the night of July 28.
Ellané sustained second and third-degree burns over 16% of her body when she accidentally pulled a jug of hot tea over her head and face.
Ellané’s mother, Irene from Centurion, said that she and her husband, Christof, immediately jumped into action.
“Our twins, Ellané Jane and Elijah Ivan, bring so much joy and energy into our lives.
“Everything happened so fast. It still feels so unreal,” she said. Blisters began forming over Ellané’s body, while her eyes swelled shut.
They rushed her to the nearest hospital where she was stabilised, before being moved to Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria West.
Ellané spent days at the hospital where she was treated for the burns.
The Engelbrecht family were faced with covering Ellané’s medical expenses while seeking counselling for both their other children.
So far, community members have come together, raising just under R40 0000 through the family’s Back-a-Buddy campaign.
“Ellané is doing exceptionally well. We can only thank our heavenly Father for the recovering process,” Engelbrecht told Rekord.
“We haven’t really had time yet to process what happened, we are still busy working and getting used to the new normal.
It is hard, but God is showing us the way every day.”
She said that most of the bandages had come off and Ellané’s scars were healing well.
“She has one bandage left on her arm, which should be removed by the end of this week or early next week.”
She said that the twins were now trying to heal from the emotional trauma of the incident.
“[Ellané] can’t stand steam. If she sees something on the stove boiling, the kettle or even if you take something out of the microwave, she would fight with you, tell you it is hot and continue until you leave it, sit next to her and explain that you are careful.”
Ellané has also struggling with separation anxiety and nightmares since the incident.
“We believe that she will soon be healed emotionally as well.”
Her twin brother, Elijah, has been supportive of his sister throughout the recovery process.
“Every time that Ellané would complain about the itching or pain he would go to her, and pat her gently where she shows that it is hurting.
He saw us doing it and just followed the lead,” explained Engelbrecht.
“We can tell that he has been through emotional trauma as well.
Their connection is unlike any sibling bond I’ve ever witnessed.”
The Engelbrecht family is about to become fuller, with a new family member expected to be born on Monday.
Looking forward, Engelbrecht said that the experience has changed her view of parenthood.
“There are things I know now that I need to be more strict about, but there are also things that are more important, things like taking longer baths together, and doing more together as a family.
That half an hour extra, you can be busy dancing or singing with your little ones.
This accident was bad, sore and heartbreaking.
But one thing I have learned is that it could’ve been worse, and we can only thank our heavenly Father that it wasn’t.”
She said that the outpouring of support they had received since the incident had been humbling.
“I expected a lot of judgement, a lot of hatred but instead that was the bare minimum.
I am in awe about every comment I read, people who are so caring, understanding and some of them that went through the exact same thing sharing their stories and being supportive.
It is one of the things that pull me through on hard days and I can only say thank you!”
VISIT: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/angels-for-ellan
WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/YBZhg17LQxZndgRy/
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