Coogee shark attack survivor Leah Stewart has celebrated a heartwarming milestone four months after losing her arm in a terrifying mauling, revealing she has finally learnt to plait her own hair with one hand.
In a touching video uploaded to her Instagram, the 34-year-old shared that styling her hair had been one of the most frustrating challenges since the attack.
Ms Stewart said she had tried hundreds of times and failed before finally succeeding in tying a plait on her own.
“If I’m honest, doing hair has been one of the most frustrating parts of my disability,” Ms Stewart captioned the video.
“I have tried to tie up my hair hundreds of times and failed but luckily I’m very stubborn and look where it’s gotten me.”
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In the clip, Ms Stewart can be seen smiling before excitedly turning her head to reveal the plait.
“Can you see this? I just did that on my own, I didn’t think I’d be able to do this. I honestly had given up on doing hair,” Ms Stewart said.
“I have managed a plait. I am so happy – and I tied it myself.”
The mother of one was swimming between the flags at Sydney’s popular Coogee Beach when she was mauled by what is believed to be a great white shark.
Her survival was credited to the rapid co-ordinated efforts of beachgoers, surf lifesavers, police and medical teams who rushed to her aid.
Though the terrifying ordeal cost Ms Stewart her arm, which was amputated below the elbow, she survived after being placed in an induced coma for 10 days and undergoing 11 surgeries.
She said prior to the incident, being able to tie a plait with one hand would seem “really lame”, but challenged viewers to try it themselves,
“My challenge for you is to try and do a plait and tie it with one hand and see how tricky this is, because I feel really clever,” Ms Stewart said.
Before her breakthrough, Ms Stewart said she relied on her partner, Fernando, to assist with her morning hair routine.
Speaking to 2GB radio host Ben Fordham last month, she revealed that earlier in her recovery she was unable to even brush her own teeth.
Ms Stewart’s inspiring milestone coincides with the launch of a $100,000 fundraising drive for the hospital that saved her life.
After spending two weeks as an inpatient at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, and now continuing her recovery as an outpatient, Ms Stewart has signed on as an ambassador for the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation’s eight-week Gift of Care campaign to raise funds for new lifesaving equipment in the ICU.
Ms Stewart said the fundraising drive was her way of thanking the doctors, nurses and health workers who treated her during her first 12 days in ICU.
“The dedicated team at St Vincent’s supported me through the toughest period of my life, and I’ll always be grateful,” Ms Stewart said.
“Fundraising is a way for me to turn that gratitude into action and help ensure future patients have access to the same exceptional care that I did.”
Head of the Department of Intensive Care Hergen Buscher welcomed her generosity, saying funds raised would help buy the newest equipment.
“Leah’s efforts send a powerful message of hope and solidarity to those facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” Mr Buscher said.
“Funds raised will allow us to acquire the specialised equipment and technology we need to ensure that we continue to provide world-class care.”