Nine years ago, Benita Johannes (23) on her 14th birthday had a nightmare in which she dreamt she lost her arms and legs.
The day after, her nightmare became a reality.
“It was on 21 June 2013 on a Friday when I left school early because I wasn’t feeling well.
“Around midday when I felt better, I decided to go and visit my aunt who lived in town. I lived at Kuisebmond at the time, and there was a railway to cross to get me to my aunt’s place,” Johannes says.
She says she cannot exactly remember what happened. But she does remember seeing herself under a train.
“At that moment I realised I had seen the train in my dream the previous night.
“I saw letters on the train in blue and yellow, and how both my arms and legs were off. I didn’t understand my dream until the accident happened,” she says.
Benita lost one leg and one arm in the accident. “I saw an ambulance when I opened my eyes. I was trying to move, but the paramedics told me not to, because I would hurt my forehead.
“After the accident, I shared the dream with my family. I have now accepted everything that happened, not like at the beginning when it was hard for me to endure.
“I have a good family support system and a few friends. I lost some friends who suddenly distanced themselves after the accident though,” she says. “There were times I questioned myself and God, and asked why it had to happen to me. But not any more.”
“I encourage those in the same situation as me to have faith and be strong. This is life, and anything can happen,” she says.
Johannes says some people judge people with disabilities, assuming that people with disabilities are unhappy. But that’s not the case.
“Some people without any disability could be going through a worse situation than mine,” she says. She says she prayed a lot during her healing process.
“Everyone is fighting their own battles – whether you are disabled or not.”
Johannes says passing Grade 12 is one of her biggest achievements, since it was not easy to progress academically after her the accident. After battling depression, she kept her faith and was motivated to make it to university – regardless of her circumstances.
Johannes is currently a final-year industrial psychology student at the University of Namibia.
During her free time, she says she enjoys watching series and loves spending time with her family.
Johannes says access to buildings in a wheelchair and using taxis are challenges she experiences.
“Some taxi drivers are not willing to take us as passengers. Some end up leaving you behind, although some are friendly and helpful.” Lifting her wheelchair or getting help from people to access buildings is a daily challenge, she says.
“I regard myself fortunate, because at many places I find myself, I feel welcome, I never feel stigmatised.
“Children tend to ask a lot of questions about what happened when they see me, but I don’t take them seriously, because they are just kids.”
