RISING TO THE CHALLENGES
YOU South Africa|30 November 2023
In the space of a few years she lost a child, was diagnosed with breast cancer and her marriage ended, but Verna continues to face life with courage and optimism
JACQUES MYBURGH
RISING TO THE CHALLENGES

THE house is bright and inviting, filled with light and splashes of colour and the laughter of children. There are family pictures on the walls, just as there are in many family homes and, like most family photos, they tell a story.

And there's plenty going on behind these pictures. The mom smiling as she poses with her three little girls has been through so much - loss, illness, trauma, upheaval.

Her youngest child isn't here anymore. Gone too are the long gleaming locks she used to take such pride in. There are also no pictures of the children's father - the end of her marriage has now been added to the list of life-changing events.

But Verna Mulder (31) is feeling positive. She and daughters Leané (11) and Zamoné (7) moved into this house in Kempton Park recently and the new home represents a fresh beginning, she says.

Mienke, the little girl she lost three years ago, is still very much part of their family. "We keep her alive by talking about her often," Verna says. "I don't want my daughters to say one day when they're older that they didn't know they had a sister."

The tragic story of Mienke is well known: she was seven months old when she choked on milk at her daycare centre six years ago and suffered brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation.

She lived for three years and the family clung to hope that she might one day recover enough to live a full life - but the little girl had many infections and complications and her heartbroken family said their final farewell to their beautiful daughter and sister in October 2020.

Since then Verna has been diagnosed with breast cancer and she and Ryno, the children's father, have split up.

"There were many factors that contributed to the divorce," she says.

She doesn't want to elaborate too much because it's a private matter, but she believes it's for the best.

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
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024