KZN’s oldest woman with Down Syndrome remains a beacon of hope at 70

BRENDA Boisson, who is considered to be one of the oldest persons with Down Syndrome in KZN, celebrated her 70th birthday on Sunday, 28 June.

Brenda was born in Durban and at the time of her birth (and for many years afterwards) Brenda’s parents, Ailsa and Stanley Boisson, were not aware or told by medical professionals that Brenda was born with Down Syndrome.

She was not kept in the background, but grew up in Hillary as an important part of her family, went everywhere with them and was included in everything, which stimulated and benefited her.

Brenda said, “The hard work my mother put in when I was young made me far more independent than a lot of other Down Syndrome folk.”

Over the years, Brenda has been invited to speak on many occasions at schools and organisations in and around Durban, at Edgewood Teachers’ Training College, to nurses in training, at Down Syndrome AGMs and conferences in both Johannesburg and Durban.

Over the years Brenda was interviewed by newspapers that featured articles on her achievements, and on radio as part of Down Syndrome Awareness Days.

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Through her interactions, she offered encouragement and hope to many parents expecting a baby with Down Syndrome.

The determined and strong-willed Brenda has achieved so much in her life as in 1992 the Durban Y-club opened its doors to the mentally challenged.

Brenda joined their gymnastics programme, travelling into Durban alone by bus and, in 1995, qualified for the Special Olympic World Games in Newhaven, Connecticut, USA.

In 1999 Brenda attended an International Down Syndrome Conference in Jerusalem where she participated in and spoke at workshops.

(As an example of her initiative and determination, attending this conference was dependent on funds being raised. Brenda phoned the Queensburgh News, asked a journalist to interview her, take a photo, and include her appeal for funds in the write-up).

When her mother died in 2002, Brenda decided that, in case she outlived her sisters, she should find somewhere to live (again her initiative).

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Brenda was already a member of the Careways Workshop in Kloof, so when Careways House, Richmond, KZN opened in 2005 she moved into the small residence which she eventually shared with nine other intellectually challenged folk.

At the end of 2010, Brenda decided that she would like to return home and she rejoined the Careways workshop in Kloof, from which she eventually retired in mid-2018.

Brenda continues to live with her sisters in Kloof.

She is a devoted great aunt to her many nieces and nephews.

“Sadly, with age, her abilities, physical and mental, are slowing down. She achieved much in her life, and, at 69 years, is considered to be one of the oldest persons with Down Syndrome in KZN. We are very proud of her,” said her sister, Melanie.

“We, her sisters, never realised the importance of all that Brenda did because to us, growing up with her, it was just expected and accepted. We now realise that, to other families of children with Down Syndrome, what our parents achieved teaching Brenda, is a beacon of hope of what the future can hold for their children.”

Melanie thanked everyone who has loved, supported and been a friend to Brenda over these past 70 years.

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