Olivia Welcomes A very Special Guest
Brave Becky Coss, the little girl dying of old age, met the superstar during an exciting dream-come-true holiday in America
DANCING around in front of the TV to the strains of Xanadu and Grease, Becky Coss never imagined she would meet Olivia Newton-John, her golden-haired screen idol who starred in both films.
But during her recent visit to the United States, Becky, who comes from the NSW country town of Bingara, received a personal invitation to the expatriate Aussie superstar’s newest Koala Blue store in Santa Ana, California.
Becky, who suffers from progeria, a rare ageing disease, was in Los Angeles, fulfilling her dream of going to Disneyland. She was accompanied by her parents, Robyn and Neville, brother Jason, Terry Banks, manager of an appeal which made the trip possible, and her best friend, Rachel Choyce.
Olivia was photographed with Becky and Rachel exclusively for Woman’s Day.
The meeting left tiny Becky, 12, positively beaming. “She was very nice,” she said of Olivia.
Olivia gave Becky a Koala Blue T-shirt and signed her autograph book with “Nice to meet you, Becky.”
And those who know the brave little girl with the infectious laugh and incredible sense of humour would echo Olivia’s sentiments.
When Becky mentioned to Olivia that she was hoping to meet Australian superstar John Farnham, she quickly jotted a message to “Johnny” on the back of a Koala Blue business card and asked Becky to pass it on.
Another bonus of the US visit came in the form of fleet-footed Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis.
“Jason saw him when we were at the airport [Los Angeles) coming back to Australia, so Rachel and I went up to him and got his autograph. He’s really big!” Becky exclaimed.
Becky also befriended Donald Duck. and the actor who dresses in the duck’s costume at Disneyland.
But by far the highlight of the visit was meeting a 14-year-old Idaho boy named Jason, who is a fellow sufferer of progeria.
“It was really good that I met him.” Becky said with a smile. “He’s about the same size as me.
Story: Angela Donaldson