South African TikTok star Beandri Booysen has died after a courageous battle with progeria, a rare disorder that caused her to age eight years for every one year of her life. She was 19 years old.
Content creator Bea Booysen’s mother confirmed her death in a Facebook group dedicated to her daughter.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri Booysen, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women,” the bereaved parent wrote. “Beandri was not only known for her vivacious personality and infectious laugh, but also as the last surviving individual in South Africa living with the rare genetic condition progeria.”
Bea added, βShe became a symbol of awareness for progeria and other children with special needs using her unique spirit to inspire thousands of people around the world. She never stopped fighting.β
A few months before she died, the teenager – who weighed just 26kg – had undergone successful open-heart surgery and was looking forward to spending the holidays with her parents.
Before he died, Beandri had amassed over 269,200 followers on TikTok, where he often shared emotional videos. Some of her most popular clips showed her lip-syncing to various pop hits while wearing a blonde wig.
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by rapid, dramatic aging and osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and prone to breaking.
Sufferers do not gain weight at the expected rate and also develop a shrunken appearance with bulging eyes, a thin beak-tipped nose, and alopecia.
Progeria β which affects one in 4 million babies β is incurable and most childhood deaths are due to heart attacks or strokes.
Beandri was one of only 200 progeria sufferers in the world and the last person to die in the Rainbow Nation from the condition.
Despite her short time on this planet, the brave South African tried to live life to the fullest and went to school like an ordinary child.
“I face everything that God brings in my life and I credit my family for their strength and support in raising me as a ‘normal’ child and not as a child to be seen as different from others,” Beandri said in a interview earlier this year. “It made me stronger and the person I am today.
By making it 19, Beandri had defied the odds considering most progeria sufferers are not expected to make it past 14.
She hoped to use her huge presence on TikTok to try and “inspire and motivate” followers and “keep them positive every day”.
“My goal is to raise awareness for other individuals with special needs and to show that everyone is different and unique in their own way and to give strength if I can,” said Beandri, who has three brothers Jaco, 23, Herman , 21 and Reuben. , 14.
She was especially friends with fellow progeria sufferer Ontlametse Phalatse, who died last year of the defect aged 18 and was the only black sufferer in South Africa.
Before she died, the brave young woman had dreamed of getting married at 25, having twins and working as a teacher.
Her mother said a memorial service will be held to commemorate Beandri’s short but influential life.
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Image Source : nypost.com