I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR ONE DAY
YOU South Africa|22 February 2024
A blood disorder made school a challenge for Zandré, but it didn't stop him from earning eight distinctions in matric
JANICE BECKETT-MSIZA
I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR ONE DAY

HE’S full of smiles as he plays with the family dogs on the lawn – and the teenager has every reason to be happy.

Zandré Smith from Randburg racked up a full house of As in his matric exams, a total of eight distinctions that even took him by surprise.

“I thought I might get three distinctions,” he says. “It was a huge surprise when I got eight.”

It was also a Herculean task. Zandré (18) has severe type A haemophilia, a genetic disorder that prevents his blood from clotting normally and causes him to suffer from bleeding joints and arthritis.

Activities as simple as walking, writing or typing can cause his joints to bleed internally.

Matric was tough for Zandré, who went to Helpmekaar Kollege, a private school in Joburg. He was granted concessions in his prelim exams and allowed to type his answers instead of writing them out – but the joints in his knuckles started bleeding and he couldn’t complete some of his papers.

“It was horrible,” he says. “It wasn’t that I didn’t know the work, it was just that I couldn’t finish it. When blood gathers in the joints the cartilage starts eroding. So it’s like bone on bone. I have arthritis in my shoulder and I’m starting to get arthritis in one hand because of all the writing. I’m living in pain.”

He still managed seven As and a B in his prelims but he needed to make another plan for finals – the pain of typing was just too much. A scribe was appointed to write his answers in a private room with a facilitator but it was stressful, he admits.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView all
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
YOU South Africa

SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES

John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love

time-read
5 mins  |
5 December 2024
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
YOU South Africa

SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG

A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
LIAM LAID TO REST
YOU South Africa

LIAM LAID TO REST

More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
SHILOH HANGS OUT
YOU South Africa

SHILOH HANGS OUT

THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
LEO IN LOVE
YOU South Africa

LEO IN LOVE

He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down

time-read
3 mins  |
5 December 2024
PACKING A PUNCH
YOU South Africa

PACKING A PUNCH

Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
YOU South Africa

I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD

As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome

time-read
5 mins  |
5 December 2024
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
YOU South Africa

'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'

A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars

time-read
4 mins  |
5 December 2024
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
YOU South Africa

THE CLAWS ARE OUT!

Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William

time-read
7 mins  |
5 December 2024
SA'S TOXIC FOOD SCARE
YOU South Africa

SA'S TOXIC FOOD SCARE

R15 million for rapid testing

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024