Africa-Press – Cape verde. In 1994, Botha was abducted at knifepoint by two men outside her home. Taken to a secluded nature reserve, she endured unimaginable brutality: she was raped, disembowelled, nearly decapitated, and left for dead. Defying all odds, Botha summoned extraordinary willpower to crawl from the bushes to the roadside, where a passing motorist found and assisted her.
Rather than succumbing to the label of “victim,” Botha used her story to inspire others. She evolved into a world-renowned motivational speaker and advocate, sharing her message of perseverance and hope. She has transformed lives through powerful talks by illustrating how attitude, belief, and choice can help overcome even the harshest circumstances.
This week, she demonstrated her remarkable resilience yet again, opening up about a recent near-death experience in a heartwarming TikTok video.
Sporting a fresh look, her short grey hair framing her inspiring presence, the 58-year-old recounted how she narrowly survived a brain aneurysm.
A difficult year
“2024 was a difficult year for me,” she shared. “In 2023, they released the two men who had attacked me back in ’94, unexpectedly, and I spiralled into a depression, anxiety, you can imagine. I tried to continue with the work I love doing, travelling, and the talks I give.
“It was hard, though,” she said.
Botha revealed that she had been living with headaches since the traumatic attack in 1994. While she dismissed one particular headache as nothing out of the ordinary, it soon proved to be life-threatening.
“My son eventually found me later that day, collapsed on the bathroom floor. We tried to treat it at home. We got some medical advice, and after a day or two, I was taken to the hospital, where they did scans and found that I had a burst brain aneurysm.”
The details of this harrowing episode remain a blur for Alison, as she only knows what her family has shared with her.
“I’m only speaking to you now on behalf of what I’ve been told and also on behalf of my family, who really had a hard time. It was tough, and they were told a lot of times that I wasn’t going to make it.”
Botha was eventually transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, where she underwent multiple brain surgeries.
“I lost my vision. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even turn myself over in bed.”
Despite these daunting challenges, Botha defied expectations and began to recover—a testament to her indomitable spirit and her family’s faith.
She resiliently shared, “I think that is part of the reason that I pulled through, that people didn’t give up on me, and I didn’t ever give up on me.”
Botha had to relearn fundamental abilities like walking, feeding herself, and performing basic tasks, but has emerged deeply grateful for a second chance at life.
She encouraged her followers and supporters to hold on to hope and never to give up, no matter how bleak circumstances may seem.
In her heartfelt message, Botha also expressed her gratitude to everyone who donated to help her cover the substantial medical and rehabilitation costs.
Admiration for her courage poured in in the comments of her video, and many praised her as a beacon of inspiration.
“You are a massive inspiration to me,” one person said. Another chimed in, “Your rawness, your realness, your tenacity and determination are just a few of the reasons why I’ve admired you for so long.”
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