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Happy birthday, Beandri! Pretoria girl with progeria celebrates her sweet sixteen

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Beandri Booysen with her parents, Pieter and Bea. She recently celebrated her sixteenth birthday with 160 guests. (PHOTO: Supplied)
Beandri Booysen with her parents, Pieter and Bea. She recently celebrated her sixteenth birthday with 160 guests. (PHOTO: Supplied)

Young people stream into the venue, clad in smart dresses and suits. Fairy lights are strung from the ceiling and music is pumping from the speakers.

The teens make their way to the girl at the centre of the venue. Her turquoise dress shimmers as she twirls around the dancefloor with her friends, her Rapunzel-like locks cascading down her back.

It’s only when you get closer that you can see the signs of age on her body and face. Her skin is as thin as parchment, and she weighs just 12kg.

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