{"id":19773,"date":"2024-09-11T12:48:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T10:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/?p=19773"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:07:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T11:07:46","slug":"19773","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/blog\/2024\/09\/11\/19773\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

Esti says being a pastor\u2019s daughter gave her some insight into valuable life lessons and people skills, which stood her in good stead for her chosen profession, occupational therapy. \u201cI love uplifting people, developing skills and being a part of someone\u2019s journey in life,\u201d she smiles, \u201cmaking occupational therapy the perfect choice for me. I graduated from the University of the Free State in 2005 and didn\u2019t look back.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Esti\u2019s journey in the Lowveld started in 2006, after she was placed at Tonga Hospital near Malalane for her community service year. \u201cThat is where I met my amazing husband, HJ, and we got married in 2007. I worked as an occupational therapist at Flamboyant School in White River for many years before I started my own private practice in Malalane. I loved empowering and nurturing the skills I recognised in my young clients; it was so rewarding,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

We went through a line of fertility treatments, and had two miscarriages,\u201d Esti explains. \u201cAnd then, in 2014, we received the best news – we were pregnant again! With twins! Identical twin boys<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In 2011, beautiful Leilah was born, but it wasn\u2019t plain sailing from then on, as the couple found themselves struggling with infertility. \u201cWe went through a line of fertility treatments, and had two miscarriages,\u201d Esti explains. \u201cAnd then, in 2014, we received the best news – we were pregnant again! With twins! Identical twin boys. We were so happy, we named them Henk and Ruben.\u201d Unfortunately, at thirteen weeks, Esti\u2019s doctor told her he had concerns about Henk, that he didn\u2019t seem to be growing as he should.<\/p>\n

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The couple were referred to a line of specialists in Pretoria and Cape Town to try and figure out what the problem was. \u201cAt 27 weeks we got the devastating news that Henk\u2019s umbilical cord was no longer functioning correctly, and he was in great danger of dying in utero. We only had one choice; the boys had to be born. Their best chance was to survive outside of the womb. We were scared and uncertain of what would happen next, but we put our trust in the Lord. Our tiny babies were born, with Henk weighing only 790g and Ruben 1.1kg. We braved the long journey in the NICU with determination and hope, but also not really knowing what would happen next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thirteen days after their birth, Henk was in trouble. He suffered heart failure and had bleeding on his brain, his life support was switched off. It felt like a bad dream, or rather a nightmare<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Having recently moved from Malalane to Mbombela, the family didn\u2019t have a lot of time to settle in and find their feet. Leilah was only three. \u201cIt was a very stressful and traumatic time for us as a young family,\u201d Esti remembers. \u201cThirteen days after their birth, Henk was in trouble. He suffered heart failure and had bleeding on his brain, his life support was switched off. It felt like a bad dream, or rather a nightmare. The only time I got to hold my precious boy was in his dying moments, cradled in my neck. I sang to him, prayed for him and held him. He was gone. I will cherish those moments with him for always.\u201d<\/p>\n

Esti and HJ didn\u2019t have much time to grieve or to work through their trauma. They had to carry on for Ruben, who was still fighting for his life in the room next door. They also had to care for Leilah, who didn\u2019t understand much of what was going on at that time. When Ruben was discharged after 65 days in ICU, they tried to get their lives back together and carry on. \u201cI was heartbroken and overwhelmed,\u201d says Esti. \u201cOur faith carried us through.\u201d
\nAs time went on, Esti found she had an intense urge to pour her heart and emotions into something tangible and to create beauty. \u201cGod led me to flowers,\u201d she smiles. \u201cI have always loved arranging flowers for my home and for friends. In 2016, I attended a wedding arrangement course at Zavion Kotze, which equipped me with so many skills. I discovered flowers made me so, so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Five years down the line, in 2021, Hartsblom was born. \u201cMy flower design business rooted deeply in my heart, hence the name \u2018Hartsblom\u2019. I could pour my absolute heartache and grief into beautiful arrangements, each one meaning something special to someone. Flowers create happiness; they carry emotions, either happy or sad. I love creating these feelings in arrangements and being part of it, especially when it comes to weddings and special occasions. Each arrangement is a unique opportunity to create beauty and memories. I just love doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n