​Wheelchair Rugby League Player’s Girlfriend Sets Up GoFundMe Ahead Of Major Surgery

Stephan Rochecouste, a very close family member of the LADbible family, is currently very unwell and has sadly been hospitalised.

Stephan suffers from spina bifida, meaning he is wheelchair-bound, and in August of 2021 he fractured his shunt, impacting the tubing which drains excess fluid from the brain.

The inspirational young man has already undergone various surgeries, but it has come at a massive financial cost for the couple.

Unfortunately for Stephan, his condition deteriorated after coming out of the first set of surgeries and he started to develop severe neurological symptoms, with doctors confirming he now needs further surgery to his head and brain.

The amazing couple are now asking for support to help ease the out-of-pocket burden of the important treatments.

Brooke said in the GoFundMe description: "Stephan has already had to sacrifice so much with this period of illness, heartbreakingly having to withdraw from the Australian Wheelchair NRL World Cup team for 2022 and being unable to work for an extended period due to his surgery and multiple hospitalisations.

"He is in severe pain daily and is unable to sit up and move around for long periods. We only hope that we can help support him through this period so he can once again get back to the things he loves.

"All money raised will go directly to Stephan's hospital bills for surgery and treatment. If there is any money leftover, he will be donating this straight to the Spina Bifida Clinic at the Sydney Children's Hospital so that children with Spina Bifida and their families can continue to receive the same amount of amazing support and care that Stephan received as a child.

"We thank you all so much for your generosity and support in advance, and will keep you updated with Stephan's progress as the situation develops."

Stephan is a truly inspirational individual and holds a special place in LADbible's heart.

Back in 2021, he gave an incredible talk to the LADbible APAC team during lockdown, telling them all about his remarkable story.

Not only is he a talented wheelchair rugby league and tennis player, but he has also worked as a professional model, most notably being the face of Tommy Hilfiger's adaptive range.

On top of that, Stephan works with NRL club Wests Tigers as well Wheelchair Sports NSW in their community departments to educate others on diversity and inclusion.

Speaking from experience, everyone at LADbible APAC walked away from our chat with Stephan with a different mentality and outlook on life.

The bloke is truly amazing and we hope he makes a speedy recovery.