Small Frame, Big Heart

Beandri battles many challenges as her body ages too fast – but she’s set to celebrate a milestone birthday!

- Franco Havenga

SHE wears clothes for a six-year-old, is only 1,1m tall and weighs a fragile 12,7kg – but don’t be fooled: she’s 100% teenager.

Her white T-shirt is branded, her smartphone is always nearby and when she doesn’t agree with her mom – well, everyone knows about it.

Beandri Booysen will celebrate her 14th birthday on 20 November and her mom has suggested she have a big party. But she hasn’t made her mind up yet. She might just go to her favourite restaurant with a friend.

But make no mistake, there’s plenty to celebrate. Beandri is one of only 125 people worldwide with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which causes those living with the condition to age four to eight times faster than their peers.

The average life expectancy of progeria patients is 14 – which makes this birthday a major milestone for Beandri.

The teenager is in fine form when we meet her and her mom, Bea (48), at their Pretoria home. Shané Marais (19), Beandri’s cousin and best friend, is here too.

Beandri’s dad, Pieter (48), works in the motor industry and her youngest brother, Ruben (21), is studying to be a flight attendant. Older brothers Jaco (30) and Herman (29) have left home and also work in the motor industry, in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Shané is studying towards a BCom at the University of Pretoria but lives down the street and sees her little cousin as often as she can.

“We talk about everything that’s happening in our lives,” Beandri says.

Shané’s company has become all the more precious since Beandri, who’s in Grade 8, is now home-schooled and doesn’t see the friends she made at primary school (YOU, 22 June 2017) so much anymore.