TOUGH LITTLE FIGHTER

Lara is the only one of a set of triplets to survive after being born prematurely at 25 weeks - and now she's started Grade 1!

- MARELIZE GRBICH

A LARGE Weimaraner bounds over in joyous greeting, but there's no sign of the little person we've come to see.

It's several minutes before a small head peeks out from a room down the hall - and when she realises she's been spotted she quickly ducks back into the room and then proceeds to flit from one room to the next.

"She's terribly shy, mom Jean-Mari van Vuuren (42) tells us. "We're trying to get her to do a little better among people, but she struggles."

The Van Vuurens, who live in Langeberg Ridge in Kraaifontein, Cape Town, have learnt it’s better to leave six-year-old Lara at home when they go shopping and visits with friends are limited. 

But they’re happy to make these sacrifices because there was a time when it looked as if they’d lose this miracle child. 

Lara is the only survivor of a set of triplets born at 25 weeks. Her sisters, Lily and Julia, died shortly after birth and Lara could go home only after spending the first four and a half months of her life in hospital. She weighed 647g at birth, while Lily weighed 550g and Julia 658g. 

At first, doctors weren’t sure Lara would survive and told Jean-Mari and her husband, Divan (41), there was a chance she’d never walk and would likely have difficulty with hearing and sight. 

None of this happened – and this year Lara started Grade 1, a major milestone for the family to celebrate. 

“Intellectually, there’s nothing wrong with her,” Jean-Mari says proudly. “Actually, I think my child is quite smart! I know every parent thinks that, but she understands everything. And she reads – she’s started recognising words by their sounds.”