Unfortunately, while showering, Liam had a stroke, which left him paralyzed and collapsed on the bathroom floor on Sunday, November 11, before Stella discovered him.
He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he underwent two emergency surgeries to remove blood clots in his brain and was placed in an induced coma.
Medical experts have not yet determined the cause of the stroke but suspect it might be associated with a fibroelastoma, a benign tumor that can develop on the heart valves.
Stella was supposed to meet Liam for a lunch gathering with friends that Sunday, and she grew worried when he did not respond to her calls.
Upon discovering him on the bathroom floor, she promptly contacted emergency services.
Reflecting on the incident, Stella recounted: “He was late picking me up. Usually he is a bit late so I didn’t think much of it. But I was calling him for over an hour. I would call then it would ring and it would pick up and decline.
“I thought ‘this is odd’. Then finally after an hour he picked up. He wasn’t making any sense. All I could make out was him saying ‘help’. So I rushed round and also called three of his friends.”
Initially, those around him thought he had a concussion, but his condition rapidly worsened.
Liam lost responsiveness on his left side, and upon reaching the hospital, it was confirmed he’d suffered a stroke and required urgent surgery to eliminate a blood clot in his brain.
During the procedure, doctors discovered a second blood clot that posed too much risk for immediate surgery, necessitating a second operation the following day.
Now, Stella and Liam must pause their plans in Australia and return to the UK so Liam can receive necessary medical care.
Stella has created a GoFundMe page to gather funds to assist with their journey back home. They aspire to go back to Australia once Liam has fully recovered.
His intensive rehabilitation is anticipated to extend for at least eighteen months.
While doctors are hopeful about his recovery, Liam’s future remains uncertain.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” Stella admitted.
“He could be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Who knows at this stage. It’s a lot of living in limbo and trying to stay positive but not really knowing anything.”