{"id":202144,"date":"2019-04-25T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/202144\/parents-celebrate-unexpected-blessings\/"},"modified":"2019-04-25T14:27:49","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T12:27:49","slug":"parents-celebrate-unexpected-blessings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/04\/25\/parents-celebrate-unexpected-blessings\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents celebrate unexpected blessings"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Primrose residents, and at that stage parents of two, Sibusiso and Mpho Thembekwayo, 2018 started as it does for most \u2013 with plans for the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was planning to complete my honours in applied psychology and Sibusiso was hoping to start a business and study more,\u201d explained Mpho when the GCN visited the couple last Thursday.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

\u201cWe were also talking about buying a house, so the last thing on our minds was having another baby as we already have Keitumetse (13) and Thoriso (2).<\/p>\n

\u201cBut God had other plans for us.\u201d<\/p>

<\/div>\n
\"\"
Sibusiso and Mpho Thembekwayo smile proudly with their triplets Reatlegile, Reamogetse and Reabetswe (blue).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pair found out they were expecting after Mpho became ill.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sick for a long time and had no reason to suspect I was sick because I was pregnant as I had my period as normal,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a month of Mpho being sick she had blood tests done and discovered she was pregnant,\u201d said Sibusiso.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really was a shock and I cried as if someone had died,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

Sibusiso agreed, \u201cI think what made it more shocking was that we found out in stages that we were expecting triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst we found out she was pregnant, then we were told we were expecting twins and then suddenly triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I guess one was hiding for a while,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

They were not the only ones who were shocked, their obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Petko Margaritov, was also surprised the couple had naturally conceived triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just kept saying this is God\u2019s doing,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe really is a wonderful doctor and helped us overcome many hurdles throughout the pregnancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean I went into the pregnancy with high blood pressure, asthma and anaemia and he really monitored me and my chronic medication dosages well, with the help of my regular physician.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just blessed that no matter what sickness I got it never affected the babies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though the pregnancy was anything but smooth sailing, the couple began enjoying it by December.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:<\/p>\n

Mommies-to-be get some helpful tips<\/a><\/p>\n

Roseacres welcomes four sets of twins<\/a><\/p>\n

Sadly their joy was short lived.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really had a black Christmas,\u201d said Sibusiso.<\/p>\n

While on their way to visit Mpho\u2019s mother in Soweto on December 22, the couple was held up by eight men with guns.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout the pregnancy, I would get terribly nauseous, especially when I was hungry,\u201d explained Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of this I always packed a few snacks whenever we went anywhere, but for some reason that day I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the M2 highway, Mpho started feeling sick.<\/p>\n

She hoped it would pass \u2013 but it didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pulled over so that Mpho could throw up,\u201d explained Sibusiso.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I was throwing up I noticed something out of the corner of my eye and before we knew it eight men, some with guns, appeared out of nowhere,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

Sibusiso walked towards the men, in an attempt to protect Mpho, and offered them the keys to the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs he walked towards them he looked at me and said ‘Mpho run’,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that moment I forgot I was pregnant with a big pregnant belly and I ran.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I finally stopped and looked back I saw Sibusiso lying on the ground and told myself he was dead and I needed to do everything I could to protect myself and our babies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mpho was able to flag down a passing car, after climbing over the highway divider.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe man took me to the police station,\u201d Mpho explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we were driving I noticed our car was behind us and began to panic that the men who had attacked us had taken the car and were chasing after me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luckily this was not the case, and it was Sibusiso driving the car after the men had disappeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter ransacking the car and taking all the groceries, money and moveable items they could find they disappeared, almost as quickly as they\u2019d come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After the horrific incident, Mpho and Sibusiso rushed to see Margaritov, convinced the babies had been affected by everything that had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo our surprise, they were absolutely fine but I had lost the use of my legs and was put on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really felt like I was a burden to everyone and found myself asking God why he\u2019d given us these triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kept saying I am never going to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mpho credited Sibusiso\u2019s unwavering support and the support of their families for getting her through the pregnancy.<\/p>\n

And on February 10, four days before their due date, Reatlegile, Reamogetse and Reabetswe arrived via caesarean section at Life Roseacres Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember Dr Margaritov saying if we get to 30 weeks then God is alive and if we get to 34 weeks then he is a miracle God,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

The babies were taken to NNICU, where they stayed for several weeks, which is not uncommon for triplets.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour weeks after they were born we brought Reabetswe home,\u201d said Sibusiso.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo weeks after that Reatlegile and two weeks after that Reamogetse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThough it was difficult leaving the babies in the hospital while we were home, we are grateful that we brought them home one at a time because it helped us adjust.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Reatlegile and Reamogetse snuggle close while cradling their brother, Reabetswe Thembekwayo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The couple is now trying to find their feet as the parents of five children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most difficult part is the money, we really didn\u2019t plan for the pregnancy and are struggling to find our feet with all the bills and welcome any help,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when we look at the faces of our children it makes everything worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sibusiso and Mpho hope their story will inspire those trying to conceive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe God\u2019s timing is perfect timing and hope couples who struggle to conceive will hear our story and know in their hearts that their time is coming,\u201d said Mpho.<\/p>\n