Durban's Ramjewan quintuplets turn 18 this weekend and the siblings are super-excited.
|||Durban - Durban's famed quintuplets - the Ramjewan siblings - turn 18 on Saturday, an emotional day for their mother who has made numerous sacrifices to give them a head start in life.
Suzanne Ramjewan, who shocked locals on November 16, 1995, when she gave birth to five healthy babies, has mixed emotions now that they are ready to fly the nest.
Ramjewan, a stay-at-home mom, underwent artificial insemination.
“We’ve come a long way,” the proud Arena Park mother said.
The quintuplets cannot wait to turn 18. The famous five - Selene, Justin, Timera, Alvina and Nathan - all matric pupils at the Arena Park Secondary School - have had their lives well documented in the media over the years, as people tried to wrap their minds around the rare phenomenon.
Ramjewan and her husband, Vinod, have all the newspaper clippings filed neatly in an album – from birth, to the first days at school, as well as the ultrasound prints and baby photographs.
“These will remain with us, now that the time has come for them to leave the nest,” she said.
Each sibling harbours a dream that they intend following after they matriculate. Selene is determined to become a teacher. Justin is keen on joining the police force. Timera wants to study for an accounting degree. Alvina has her heart set on architecture and Nathan wants to be a DJ.
“This is an exciting time for us. On the first day of school, our principal called us to the front podium and introduced us as the quintuplets and we’ve always been known by that,” Timera said.
“Turning 18 means an individual identity for each of us, one that we get to develop.”
Ramjewan said she was proud of her children and that they had turned out well.
“It hasn’t been easy bringing them up. Lots of tough times, lots of challenges, and every year was a milestone in itself,” she said.
“My life was always on hold, as I had to dedicate every single part of myself to them.
“But it has been worth it. I know they will go out there and do me proud.”
Ramjewan plans to go back to work and study.
Daily News