“It’s been a huge shock. No one really knows why it happened.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They’re the words of family and friends of Macleay man Steven Stewart, who suffered a suspected stroke on May 8 at the age of 24.
Steven, who grew up in the Macleay and attended Kempsey High, currently lives in Bendigo with his high school sweet heart and fellow Macleay expat Samantha Smith.
Steven had been supporting Samantha through university as she studied occupational theory, something Steven was “very proud of,” according to family friend Lucinda Reid.
On the day of May 8, Steven began experiencing bad chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness.
He and Samantha went to the Bendigo emergency department where Steven subsequently collapsed from a suspected stroke that had injured his spinal cord.
As a result of the stroke, Steven has lost total control of his body from the neck down and can only communicate with his eyes and face.
Steven’s sister in law Chloe Smith said while the lack of clarity over the incident has been difficult for the family, they are positive that Steven has made some “small progress”.
“No one really knows why it happened, he was a healthy guy,” Chloe said.
“It’s really rare, they’re doing tons of investigating at the moment.”
Lucinda said that Steven had shown some positive signs from his Melbourne Hospital bed over the last few days and said that, with a supportive family around him, they were confident he would continue to progress.
In the last few days Steven’s breathing tube has been removed, a significant step forward.
“It’s so unreal,” she said of the life-changing incident.
“He’s such a nice guy, he’d do anything for anyone.”
Family and friends are putting their energies into fundraising efforts to help cover the costs of the medical care Steven will require as he recovers.
These efforts will be headlined by a fundraiser at the Willawarrin Pub at 4pm on June 17.
The event will include a sausage sizzle, jumping castle, auction, lucky door prize, DJ, cake stalls, face painting and karaoke. For those who can’t make it, family ask supporters to consider making a donation to Steven’s fund at BSB 012-703, account number 465-431-863.