Online Reporter
South African DJ and television personality Lamiez Holworthy has opened up about a frightening health crisis that left her fighting for her life in hospital, while also addressing body-shaming comments directed at her during her recovery.
Holworthy took to Facebook to thank her supporters for their prayers, revealing that the past few days had been “scary and painful beyond words”.
“I nearly died. I nearly lost my life and probably would’ve if I wasn’t rushed to the hospital on Sunday,” she wrote.
Her disclosure comes days after her management confirmed that she had been rushed to hospital and undergone an emergency surgical procedure. At the time, management said her condition was not life-threatening and asked the public to respect her privacy while she recovered.
However, Holworthy’s latest update offered a much more personal account of the seriousness of the ordeal.
The Metro FM presenter said she had lost a significant amount of blood, to the point that her doctor was considering a blood transfusion.
“How I am able to type this is a miracle,” she wrote, adding that her body had been through “so much trauma” since Sunday.
‘There is no honour in working yourself to death’
Reflecting on the experience, Holworthy said the health scare had forced her to reconsider the demands she places on herself as a working woman and entertainer.
“The biggest lesson that I learnt? To listen to my body and that there is no honour in working yourself to death,” she said.
She questioned the value of sacrificing her health for her career, saying that all the hard work would mean little if she were no longer alive to enjoy it.
Holworthy also acknowledged the importance of remembering her humanity despite her demanding professional schedule.
“But also, that I am Human and not a robot,” she wrote. She said her husband, parents, siblings, children and loved ones deserved a healthier and happier version of her, adding that she would be taking time off to heal and reconnect.
“I’m back home and overcame the worst, my body fought hard – I fought hard,” she said.
Adressing body-shaming
The DJ also addressed criticism surrounding a photograph of herself that she said had been used to body-shame her.
Holworthy explained that she had deliberately worn the dress pictured because she wanted to challenge unrealistic expectations around women’s bodies. She said she had spoken to an audience in Bloemfontein about wearing the outfit as a way of showing that she was “normal” and, like many women, had cellulite and stretch marks.
“I gained weight and wasn’t going to try and hide it,” she said.
Holworthy criticised the decision to use the photograph against her, particularly while she was dealing with a serious medical crisis.
She questioned the timing of the attack, pointing out that Women’s Month was still underway and arguing that women should not tear each other down.
“Using a time where the person you are at war with alone … is FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE IN HOSPITAL is low even for her,” she wrote.
‘I cannot … give Satan any more airplay’
Despite the hurt caused by the criticism, Holworthy said she was choosing not to give the situation further energy while she focuses on her recovery.
She described herself as being in no position to engage with what she called the other person’s projections, saying her priority was healing after the trauma her body had endured.
She ended her message by expressing gratitude for being alive and thanking those who had prayed for her.
“Modimo o teng and ga nyake ka bana ba gagwe,” she wrote, expressing her faith that God is present and does not abandon His children.
Holworthy also sent words of healing to the woman involved in the dispute, saying she hoped she would find both herself and God.
Her management previously confirmed that Holworthy’s health crisis forced her to cancel appearances scheduled for 9 and 10 August, with revised bookings expected once she is medically cleared to return to work.
For now, Holworthy says her focus is on rest, healing and reconnecting with herself and the people she loves – IOL
