After surviving a terrifying encounter with a shark more than two months ago, a Sydney mother bravely breaks her silence, highlighting the community support that helped her focus on “getting better, not bitter”.
In a heartfelt message on her GoFundMe page, 34-year-old Leah Stewart shared that although her recovery journey isn’t over, the progress she’s made so far has been “remarkable”.
“An overwhelming part of this journey has been the immense outpouring of love, support, prayers, and encouragement that my family and I have received from around the globe,” Stewart expressed.
“Words can’t fully convey what this support means to me, and I am convinced that it has been pivotal in my healing process.”
Stewart was enjoying a swim between the safety flags just off the shore when a great white shark attacked her at Coogee Beach on June 13.
She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, being induced in a coma and undergoing multiple surgeries, including the amputation of one of her arms.
The mother of one said she had been focused on her recovery and had “progressed enough to build some independence, and I can finally see some light after all of this”.
“I want you to know that I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life, and I’m not going to waste it. As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care, and love. I will forever be grateful for everything, and everyone, I’ve been given,” she said.
“You’ve inspired me to get better, not bitter.”
Stewart thanked those who had contributed to the fundraiser, which had reached more than $558,000, but it was time to turn donations off.
“What you’ve offered has given us enough to recover, to stay in our home, and to give us options for further medical treatment down the road,” she said.
Sydney has experienced a spate of shark attacks this year, including three in just 48 hours in January.
On 18 January, 12-year-old Nico Antic was critically injured and later died after being attacked by a suspected bull shark while swimming off rocks in Vaucluse in Sydney Harbour.
The following day, Andre de Ruyter, 27, was attacked while surfing near Manly, suffering extreme blood loss and undergoing surgery to have one of his legs amputated.
An 11-year-old boy’s surfboard was also bitten at Dee Why Beach on the same day, but the young surfer escaped injury.
After Stewart was attacked in June, NSW Premier Chris Minns said his government would invest an extra $34 million in drone coverage across NSW beaches.