The family of a girl with a terminal illness says, while they are unable to throw her their annual birthday party, they do want to make one of her biggest wishes come true and they want the Daily Voice to help.
Zoe Okkers, 12, was born with the illness and was adopted by her foster mother, Gaynor Hendricks when she was just four months old.
Her biological mother was 17 at the time and unable to care for her sick baby.
Gaynor, 55, who is a relative of the mother, says little Zoe spent four months in hospital.
“We didn’t know what the problem was with her, but at four months I told doctors to do extensive testing on her which they did and discovered her illness.”
The Daily Voice knows what the meisie is suffering from, but the family has asked for it to be kept private.
HELP: Pop idol Paxton Fielies. PHOTO: IAN LANDSBERG/INLS
Zoe will turn 13 on 20 March and would love to meet her role model, Idol Paxton Fielies.
“I love Paxton and I just want to meet her to tell her how much I adore her,” says a shy Zoe.
“I might be suffering from a deadly illness, but I won’t let that hold me back.
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“Like Paxton, I will rise above my circumstances and I draw inspiration from her.”
Gaynor says they’ve been giving Zoe a party every year to celebrate another milestone, but this year they simply can’t afford to do so.
Gaynor is known and loved as the agony aunt in her community, and her house is always full of people looking for help.
“We always try our best to make it easier for them, even if it’s just a little,” the humble woman says.