In die gees van Valentynsdag, het die somerbriesie sag oor die ou koshuis gewaai.

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the summer breeze softly blew over the old hostel.

Die kinders het buite gespeel, hul lag en skerts vul die warm lug.

The children played outside, their laughter and teasing filled the warm air.

Die koshuis was 'n kleurvolle plek; die mure bedek met tekeninge en boodskappe van hoop wat die kinders met yl verf en potlood geskep het.

The hostel was a colorful place; the walls covered with drawings and messages of hope that the children had created with thin paint and pencil.

Dit was hier, tussen die kunswerke, dat Annelie en haar klein boetie Jaco gewoon het.

It was here, among the artworks, that Annelie and her little brother Jaco lived.

Annelie was 'n vasberade jong meisie van 17 jaar, altyd gereed om na Jaco om te sien.

Annelie was a determined young girl of 17 years, always ready to look after Jaco.

Op negejarige ouderdom was Jaco altyd met krabbel en papier besig.

At nine years old, Jaco was always busy with scribbles and paper.

Hy het prentjies van hul toekoms geteken, van 'n huis vol liefde en gesonde dae.

He drew pictures of their future, of a house full of love and healthy days.

Maar Jaco het 'n seldsame hartkwaal gehad, en die koshuis het nie die middele om hom te help nie.

But Jaco had a rare heart condition, and the hostel did not have the means to help him.

Op hierdie spesiale Valentynsdag was daar 'n geleentheid om vir Jaco 'n beter toekoms te soek.

On this special Valentine's Day, there was an opportunity to seek a better future for Jaco.

'n Gewilde dokter, bekend vir sy gratis werk, was genooi.

A well-known doctor, famous for his free work, had been invited.

Daar was ook 'n egpaar wat oorweeg het om kinders aan te neem.

There was also a couple considering adopting children.

Annelie het haar moed bymekaargeskraap.

Annelie gathered her courage.

Sy het geweet dit was haar kans.

She knew this was her chance.

Toe die dokters en die potensiële aannemingsouers opgedaag het, het 'n gevoel van spanning in die lug gehang.

When the doctors and potential adoptive parents arrived, a feeling of tension hung in the air.

Annelie het haar hand stewig om Jaco se klein handjie gehou, en haar oë was vasberade.

Annelie held Jaco's small hand tightly, and her eyes were resolute.

Toe sy die moed het, het sy na hulle gestap, haar stem ferm maar sag.

When she had the courage, she walked up to them, her voice firm yet gentle.

"Jaco het 'n spesiale hart," het sy gesê.

"Jaco has a special heart," she said.

"Hy het baie liefde en talent. Maar hy het ook hulp nodig."

"He has much love and talent. But he also needs help."

Daar was 'n traan in haar oog, maar dit was nie die traan van vrees nie, dit was een van hoop.

There was a tear in her eye, but it wasn't a tear of fear, it was one of hope.

Die dokter het bedagsaam geknik en na Jaco se tekeninge gekyk.

The doctor nodded thoughtfully and looked at Jaco's drawings.

Die egpaar, met sagte glimlagte, het na Annelie geluister, hul harte diep geraak deur haar woorde.

The couple, with soft smiles, listened to Annelie, their hearts deeply touched by her words.

"Ons soek 'n gesin," het sy vervolg, "een wat ons albei saam aanvaar."

"We are looking for a family," she continued, "one that will accept both of us together."

En toe gebeur die wonderwerk.

And then the miracle happened.

Die egpaar het met mekaar gepraat en daarna het hulle Annelie en Jaco nadergetrek.

The couple spoke with each other and then drew Annelie and Jaco closer.

"Ons sal graag julle familie wil wees," het hulle gesê.

"We would love to be your family," they said.

Die dokter het ook omgedraai en gesê, "Ek sal sorg dat Jaco die mediese sorg kry wat hy nodig het."

The doctor also turned around and said, "I will ensure Jaco gets the medical care he needs."

Daardie aand, toe die son onder die somerhemel gesak het en die kinders in die koshuis begin stil word het, het Annelie en Jaco op hul nuwe ouers se skoot gekruip.

That evening, as the sun set under the summer sky and the children in the hostel began to quiet down, Annelie and Jaco snuggled onto their new parents' laps.

Hulle het geweet dat liefde, 'n warm somer en 'n dapper suster se pogings 'n nuwe lewe vir hulle gebring het.

They knew that love, a warm summer, and a brave sister's efforts had brought a new life for them.

Annelie het geleer om te vertrou en die krag van ander se hulp te aanvaar.

Annelie learned to trust and to accept the power of others' help.

Haar moed om oop te maak het nie net haar en Jaco se lewens verander nie, maar ook dié van 'n liefdevolle paartjie wat nou hul eie liefdevolle huis gehad het—'n huis vol hoop en die klop van 'n spesiale hart.

Her courage to open up not only changed her and Jaco's lives but also those of a loving couple who now had their own loving home—a home full of hope and the beat of a special heart.