CJ defies doctors expectations and lives to 21
At birth, he had a 10 per cent chance of survival and doctors predicted he would only live for four months.
CJ Strydom has proven doctors wrong by living to the age of 21.
He was born with chromosomal abnormalities, a single kidney, has Pierre-Robin syndrome and Alzheimer’s.
At birth, he had a 10 per cent chance of survival and doctors predicted he would only live for four months.
At the time of his birth, he was one of very few children in the world with his combination of syndromes.
Despite his syndromes, CJ has remained healthy and only had his first operation in February this year when he had all his teeth removed.
However, CJ has defied medical expectations and turned 21 last year April.
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For his family, every day with him is a gift.
“He’s here for a purpose and we take each day as it comes.
“He’s such a loveable person, who loves everyone,” says Mariette de Beer.
Although CJ cannot talk and has limited mobility, he has no trouble expressing himself and communicating.
He makes use of his body language to get his message across.
De Beer met CJ and his sister, Danielle van Vuuren, when she moved to Springs last year.
Since then, she says she has grown to love CJ like her own child.
Danielle says she can’t imagine life without her brother.
CJ is her younger brother and they have another brother who lives overseas.
The pair’s mother died in 2016, and they have each other and their grandparents.
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“I have devoted my life to him and I have no friends.
“I used to ask why him, but then I realised God gave us such a blessing in CJ,” says Danielle.
Family friend Linda Botha echoes Danielle’s statement and says CJ has brought so much joy to those around him.
To help make CJ’s 22nd birthday a memorable one, his loved ones would love for CJ to visit a group of bikers or go to a wrestling match.
“He’s absolutely crazy about those things and it would make him so happy,” says Linda.
CJ will be turning 22 in April.
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