She’s witty and sharp as a tack. And when you hear the talented 18-year-old chatting about her dreams for the future you’d never think she’s living in the shadow of death.
She was a top achiever in matric, scoring straight As in the third term at Hoërskool DF Malan in Bellville, Cape Town, and received a special award from the headmaster – and a standing ovation. But Gesie Theron is effectively blind and her body is being eaten away by cancer.
Carrying on in these circumstances would be a huge challenge for the most courageous of fighters, but it seems Gesie has an indefatigable zest for life.
Even though illness kept her out of school for sometimes months on end she never fell behind twin sister Martie. Both were among the top 20 matrics at their school and they took their finals together, Gesie taking them orally.
All she wants is to live life to the full and often jokingly tells her family, “Stick with me – I’ll take you places.”
YOU’s Carol Coetzee spoke to this brave, bright star. Read more in YOU 5 January 2012.
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