Shark Attack Survivor Leah Stewart Reads Supporter Messages While Recovering From Arm Amputation

Leah Stewart, who lost an arm in a shark attack, has been reading messages from supporters during sleepless nights as she recovers, her family said. Fox News reported that Stewart, an Australian mother and teacher, was attacked June 13 while swimming close to shore within the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney.

She suffered multiple bites across her arms and legs, lacerations, fractures and extreme blood loss.

Stewart was placed on life support, put under a medically induced coma and underwent multiple surgeries, one of which required the amputation of an arm. Stewart woke from the 10-day coma after doctors reduced her sedation. " Her first thoughts were with her 1-year-old daughter, August, according to her brother Joshua Stewart.

Joshua Stewart wrote in a GoFundMe update on Sunday that Stewart has had difficulty sleeping since the incident. "Since the incident Leah has had difficulty sleeping, and on those nights she’s been reading back through your messages," he wrote. "We’ve been sharing some of the beautiful messages we’ve received with Leah and she’s loved them, finding inspiration from the care and love you’ve all shared," Joshua Stewart added.

Messages have come from family and community in Australia, whānau in New Zealand and people across the world, he wrote. The family launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to support Stewart, her partner and their daughter for recovery, prosthetics, rehabilitation and ongoing care.

Joshua Stewart said the family has had issues with the GoFundMe messaging system that caused delays in responding to supporters.

"Leah is beyond overwhelmed at the amazing support she has received and that her story has resonated with so many people," he wrote. Her family thanked the lifesavers, first responders, helicopter crew and medical team at St. Vincent’s Hospital.