Miracle In The Lives Of Twin Baby Girls

reported by World Vision Communications Officer- Bartolomeus Marsudiharjo

The two separate houses where twin baby girls Lailatus Saadah and Lailatus Istiana used to live both crumbled to the ground when the powerful earthquake struck their village on May 27. Miraculously, these two girls survived, with only minor injuries suffered by Istiana.

Two-year-old Saadah and Istiana live in Gresik village in Bantul district, the area devastated by the 6.3-magnitude tremor. The village is about 20 kilometres south of Yogyakarta city, Indonesia.

Saadah lives with her parents Ahmad Lestari and Partinem. Istiana has been living for some time with her aunt, who has no child of her own, in a separate house not far from Saadah’s home. Both houses collapsed when the earth shook.

On that fateful morning, Partinem left Saadah in bed in her room while she prepared meals in the kitchen. When the quake rocked the area, the house started to collapse. Partinem instinctively rushed to the bedroom to save Saadah, but her steps were stopped by crumbling walls that crushed one of her legs. She was soon buried under the debris, having become unconscious.

The bricks and the roof also fell on Saadah. But, miraculously, a pillow protected her tiny body. She was trapped under the debris, uninjured.

Ten-year-old Vitara Febriani, Partinem first daughter, had managed to rush out of the crumbling house. Shakily, she found comfort by hugging a banana tree in the yard. The fourth year student of elementary school soon realised that her little sister and her mother were trapped in the debris. She then heard Saadah’s mellow voice, crying for help.

“Mbak [a call for an elder sister] Vita … Mbak Vita,” cried Saadah.

Saadah repeated her call again and again, but Vita could not help free her sister from the mount of rubble. Just then, their grandfather came and managed to salvage both Saadah and Partinem out of the debris. One of Partinem’s legs was severely wounded.

“My mother is hit by bricks. She is sick and bleeding,” explained Saadah.

Saadah’s father Ahmad Lestari works as a security guard at the Gajahmada University in Yogyakarta, some 20 kilometres away. He only managed to reach his home four hours after the quake struck.

At the other house, Istiana also experienced a similar fate. Her aunt’s house crumbled to the ground. Istiana suffered from minor injuries at the back part of her head and cheek. Her aunt also suffered from some injuries, but not as serious as Partinem.

Partinem was referred to the PKU Hospital in Bantul city for more proper treatment. She will still need some time to recover, although she might not be able to full recover with a properly functioning leg.

World Vision relief team donated 135 stretchers (to function as emergency beds) to PKU where Partinem was treated. The beds were greatly welcomed by the patients at the hospitals since so many of them were lying down on the ground as all hospital beds were fully occupied.

Saadah has joined her aunt in a makeshift tent set up in a field at the corner of the village.

Saadah and Istiana are among the lucky ones. More than 5,000 residents of Bantul and Klaten districts were not as fortunate. They perished when the tremor hit their districts. Thousands others also suffered from severe injuries.

Ahmad Lestari broke down in tears upon seeing the condition of his wife. His silver lining is that Saadah and Istiana are both safe, and he thanks God for this miracle.