Shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has revealed her second skin graft has failed, months after she was mauled in Sydney.
The 34-year-old teacher took to social media to share a candid health update on her recovery, showing the open leg wound she suffered during the attack at Coogee Beach on June 13.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Shark attack survivor’s sad health update
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Stewart revealed earlier this month she was preparing for her second skin graft, and that she hoped the surgery would result in the closing of her still-open leg wound.
“I had my graft checked yesterday and it was confirmed that it failed,” Stewart said in an Instagram post.
“So yeah, feeling pretty devastated, had quite a few tears.
“And now we’re not really sure where to go from here. It’s been three-and-a-half months and my leg is still open.”
Stewart has been sharing her recovery online, including adjusting to life with an amputated arm following the attack.
The mother-of-one tried to remain positive about her treatment options on Tuesday, despite the setback.
“I guess the only good thing is we’re trying something different. So I’m having a little break from the VAC machine,” Stewart said.
The portable negative pressure wound therapy device, or VAC machine, had become a constant part of her recovery.
“This machine is pulling all of the wound together and then collecting all of the excess fluid,” Stewart said earlier this month.
The machine, a device five times smaller than the one she was initially using, was still a bulky inconvenience in her day-to-day life.
“It is a little bit annoying because if you forget to charge it, you need to race home and plug yourself into a wall,” she said.
“I’m constantly being harassed by this machine, but I’m very thankful for it because it has made a huge impact on the healing of my leg.”
Now that Stewart has set the VAC machine aside for now, she said: “I can move a little bit more freely.”
“Anyway, we keep moving forward.”
