Eight years ago, Chloe’s life changed forever in a second. What followed was a story of resilience, creativity, and rediscovery.
Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, Chloe, now 22 years old, moved to the UAE with her family when she was just two.
“I was the biggest social butterfly,” Chloe recalls of her early years in Dubai. “It was a pretty easy-going childhood – I went to school and made friends with everyone.”
Everything changed eight years ago, when Chloe was struck by a motorbike, suffering a subdural hematoma that affected her memory, focus, physical balance, and, consequently, her social life.
A LIFE-ALTERING EVENT
Chloe is grateful she doesn’t remember the accident itself, but its aftermath brought profound changes. The injury affected not just her cognitive and physical abilities, but also her relationships.
“I lost all of my friends,” Chloe reflects. “They were either too immature to understand or too busy to find the time for me. Always being very mature for my age, I found myself gravitating towards older people and making friends with adults instead.”
The trauma forced Chloe to leave school and continue her education at home. She had an intensive period of physiotherapy and speech therapy – a rehabilitation journey that continues to this day.
While recovery has been challenging, Chloe credits her parents as her lifeline. “It hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t been as difficult as it would have been if I were alone,” she says. “My parents made everything so much easier, so much better. They are my main source of inspiration and strength.”
The accident also triggered an unexpected inner transformation. As a teenager, Chloe had struggled with feelings of inadequacy. “I felt like I wasn’t good enough,” she remembers. “But after the accident, every part of that fell away. My parents fought so hard to keep me alive that I figured I might have more value than I previously thought.”
Through her family’s dedication to her recovery, Chloe discovered a fundamental truth: she was worth fighting for and worth loving.
LEARNING AT MAWAHEB
Two years ago, Chloe found her second home at Mawaheb – a place that helped her reconnect with people and enhance her creativity.
Making new connections was difficult for Chloe – she found it challenging to explain why she needed more time and focus to engage with others. Here, at Mawaheb, however, people understand and support her.
“Mawaheb is a great source of comfort and motivation. It’s a community that looks out for you and only wants what’s best for you,”
says Chloe.
At Mawaheb, Chloe focuses on two main areas: art and public speaking. Under the guidance of art teacher Clizia Zepparelli, she has developed a distinctive style centred on drawing faces, with particular attention to the eyes.
“I do a lot of art with Clizia. She is brilliant, very artistic and fun to be around, so I truly enjoy what I learn,” Chloe explains. Her focus on eyes as “the windows to a soul” reflects both her artistic vision and her deep interest in human stories.
Another transformative experience has been her work in public speaking with life skills instructor Jenny Hooff. “I would talk your ears off if you let me,” Chloe says with a smile. “I like to speak about myself and my experiences. I was very shy to begin with and didn’t want to speak too loudly, because I was afraid of saying something wrong, but now I realise that the only wrong that I can do is not to say anything.”
“Chloe is very smart, emotionally intelligent and has a brilliant sense of humour. She has made great progress since she joined us as a student, and she loves coming here,”
observes Jenny Hooff.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
Thinking of her future, Chloe envisions herself living independently and pursuing her dream job as a screenwriter. “I’ve written a few films and am certainly looking into publishing some of them,” she says.
But Chloe’s aspirations extend beyond professional achievement.
“Starting a family has been a big dream of mine since I was very young,” shares Chloe. “As a mother, I will teach my children to value themselves and others, to love themselves and to treat people with kindness.”
Chloe’s story continues to unfold. And now, with the support of her family, the community at Mawaheb, and her hard-won wisdom, she’s ready to write the next chapter.
Article written by: Arevik Petrosian
