NATIONAL NEWS - Bea Booysen, the mother of Beandri, has confirmed the passing of her daughter, who lived with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.
Beandri was 19 years old.
According to a Facebook post by her mother, Beandri was the last surviving individual in South Africa living with progeria.
This genetic condition is rare and causes rapid aging in children. In October, a BackaBuddy campaign was started to raise money for Beandri to undergo open-heart surgery.
“Beandri, who lives in Doornpoort, Pretoria, is beloved by her 269.2K TikTok followers and whose videos have garnered over 372K likes. She has been diagnosed with aortic stenosis – a condition where her aortic valve is dangerously obstructed, limiting blood flow from her heart. To make matters worse, calcification in her aorta is adding further complications. Without immediate surgery, Beandri’s health is at serious risk,” the post for the campaign reads.
It was deemed her ‘biggest challenge yet’.
Her mother’s post earlier today adds: “Despite the challenges she faced, Beandri radiated hope and joy. She became a symbol of awareness for progeria and other special needs, using her unique spirit to inspire thousands of people worldwide,” the post reads.
Bea adds that their family requests privacy during this difficult period. “Further details regarding the memorial service will be shared in due course,” it concludes
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