South African girl wants to be the OLDEST person living with rare genetic disease (photos)
- Beandri Booysen, 11, suffers from rare genetic disease called progeria
- She was close friends with Ontlametse Phalatse
- She wants to be the oldest person living with progeria in the world
Young Beandri Booysen from Pretoria, South Africa is only 11 years old but looks much older.
She suffers from progeria, a rare condition that causes one's body to age at a much faster rate.
She is the last known surviving progeria sufferer in South Africa following the passing of her close friend and fellow sufferer, Ontlametse Phalatse, in April.
In an interview with South Africa's News24, brave Beandri declared her wish to become the oldest person living with progeria in the world.
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She also hopes to get married, have twins and to become a teacher. She adds a final but no small wish—to take a Mini Cooper, her favorite car, on a spin.
Beandri said: "I want to be a teacher because I love children, I want to make a difference in the lives of other children."
As can be expected, she faces immense challenges as a progeria patient. She needs help up the stairs and cannot carry a heavy bag to school.
She also has to be helped out of her bathtub after taking a bath and still sleeps in her parents' bedroom because her mother wouldn't allow her to sleep alone.
READ ALSO: Meet first black girl trapped in body of pensioner who surpassed life expectancy of 13 to celebrate 18th birthday (photos, video)
However, she is lively and tries to live as normal a life as possible. She speaks excitedly about visiting New York and Paris.
While the passing of her friend Ontlametse scared her because she kept asking herself how long before her time comes, she is optimistic about her future.
She said: "I want to finish school, I want to go to the matric farewell with my crush, I want to be a teacher, I want to have lots and lots of money so that I can get new clothes and go out to the movies. I also want to get married and have twins."
Watch more about her in the video below.
Source: Legit.ng
