Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Sedgefield-native and former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has sadly had to say goodbye to her younger sister Franje who passed away on Saturday, 4 May.
Franje was born 13 years ago with subtotal cerebellar agenesis, which boils down to the fact that she was born without a cerebellum which left all her motor functions impaired.
She was unable to walk, talk, or sit on her own and swallowing was even effected which meant she had a feeding tube inserted directly into her stomach.
In Franje's final months, Demi-Leigh and the family became increasingly aware of the fact that any moment with Franje could be their last due to her deteriorating condition. "We had a chat to Demi during December after Franje was hospitalised once more, explaining the seriousness of Franje's condition to her," Bennie, Franje and Demi-Leigh's father, said. "With the distance that she [Demi-Leigh] has to travel, she had to realise that every time she sees Franje, might be the last time."
Franje's diagnosis came four months after her birth and as a major shock to the family as nothing had been picked up during the pregnancy. Franje's last valiant stand against the harsh cards life dealt her, was in the days leading up to her passing, when she was taken to hospital on Tuesday, 30 April and diagnosed with viral pneumonia.
She was placed on oxygen at the hospital, and spent the next four days fighting the infection which couldn't be treated with antibiotics due to the nature of a viral infection.
Fanje's fight came to an end on Saturday, 4 May at 13:35 when her body finally gave in to the infection that had left her bed-ridden since Tuesday.
In a social media post on Sunday, Demi-Leigh said farewell to her sister saying that their "hearts are aching beyond measure but I am grateful knowing she's forever relieved of the pain she experienced on Earth". Bennie stated that Franje is survived by "her parents, Bennie and Elzabé Peters, her sister Demi-Leigh and her two doting grannies". "And of course, everyone ever touched by the pure love she radiated," he concluded.
Read previous articles here:
- Franje's funeral on dad's birthday
- Demi-Leigh and family remembers Franje
- Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters mourns death of sister
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