Aqueela Khamissa: From tragedy to triumph – A journey of recovery and love

“Is there someone inside? She is not breathing very well; we need to get her out.” These urgent words came from Good Samaritans at the scene of a devastating accident that nearly took the life of 23-year-old Aqueela Khamissa from Wynberg, leaving two others injured in Claremont in November 2024.

Today, Khamissa stands as a symbol of resilience, a walking miracle who has defied the odds after suffering severe frontal lobe brain damage and significant injuries to her left arm and leg, both of which required extensive reconstructive surgery.

Her mother, Adiela Fortune, has chronicled her daughter’s remarkable recovery on TikTok under the username adiela.fortune.

On July 13, Khamissa married her fiancé, Ismaeel Khamissa, just months after the horrific collision. The family faced another blow when her father, Adnaan Fortune, passed away from heart failure just four days after the crash. “From breakdown to breakthrough,” Fortune reflects, as she and their family rallied around Khamissa during her rehabilitation.

Khamissa had to relearn how to walk and underwent rigorous speech therapy for months. At the time of the accident, she was a marketing student, returning home after dropping off a friend when the collision occurred, resulting in bouts of memory loss. When Fortune arrived at the scene, she found her daughter being resuscitated and received the devastating news of Khamissa’s brain injury. “Four different doctors said she would be in a coma for the rest of her life. She was in a coma for three weeks, and her brain was swollen. Her left leg and arm were fractured, requiring metal plates and screws for surgery.”

Once discharged from Groote Schuur hospital, Khamissa was under her mother’s care and the guidance of various therapists. “She had months of speech therapy, and it was mainly due to the trauma that she was stuttering,” explained Fortune. “I told her we would overcome this. I pushed her, saying she would walk and talk again, despite the criticism I faced.”

The day Fortune had to carry her daughter into their home was particularly heartbreaking, especially since Khamissa was unaware of her father’s death. “My husband died just before our 25th wedding anniversary. I had to arrange the janaza while my daughter was fighting for her life. When she came home, I had to tell her that her father had died, which was incredibly difficult.”

“I had my moments of despair, but I had to remain strong. I would call the hospital at 1 am, appealing to my creator for strength,” she continued. Fortune leaned heavily on her family during these challenging times.

Eventually, good news emerged. Although Khamissa still struggles with memory loss and emotional outbursts due to her brain injury, she and Ismaeel began dating a few months ago, announcing their engagement just two weeks before their wedding. “It was both a joyful and sorrowful day for the family. My father wasn’t there for my big day. I told my husband it felt strange to experience such conflicting emotions on what should be the best day of my life,” Khamissa shared.

“I am grateful to be married to someone who understands me. I have memory lapses and outbursts, but I remind myself that I am a better version of myself after the accident because I had to fight and overcome.” Fortune expressed her blessing for Ismaeel, noting his patience and understanding. “He said, ‘Aunty, I love her and understand her. I know how to handle her.’ Khamissa had to accept her scars and rebuild her confidence, supported by her wonderful parents and the dedicated staff at Groote Schuur hospital.”

Cape Argus