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'Very Fit' 21-Year-Old Man Left Fighting For His Life After Suffering Stroke

'Very Fit' 21-Year-Old Man Left Fighting For His Life After Suffering Stroke

He is facing 'life-long recovery'

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

A man described by his family as 'very fit' suffered a stroke seven days before his 21st birthday after doing push-ups at home and has been left fighting for his life in hospital.

Samuel O'Sullivan, from Melbourne, Australia, started to experience excruciating head pain after exercising on 26 May.

He ran to his parents for help and they called an ambulance straight away, but his condition began to deteriorate quickly, with his dad having to perform CPR on him until the paramedics arrived.

Sam dreamed of training to be a policeman.
GoFundMe

He arrived at Monash Hospital and was rushed to surgery with doctors finding the fitness fan had Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) - tangled blood vessels that connect the arteries and veins in the brain. It was a condition he would have had since birth.

His dad Brendan has started a GoFundMe after being told that the severity of his condition could cost upwards of AU$100,000 (£55,000) to treat.

The page reads: "I am starting this GoFundMe page for my son Samuel O'Sullivan, he is on a life long road to recovery after suffering a brain aneurysm/stroke at the young age of 20 (due to an AVM).

"All funds raised will go towards his long term rehabilitation (which will include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists etc. to allow him to adapt to his new normal), medical devices such as wheel chair, medical bed, alterations to our home to accommodate Sam and his needs and possibly a customised vehicle for transport.

"These are just some of the things the hospital staff has identified as essentials. Doctors have also advised us to expect Sam's hospital stay to be many months or longer before he is allowed home."

Since being started on 7 June, the page has reached more than AU$38.5k (£21k) of its AU$100k target.

An update posted on 13 June read: "Samuel is out of ICU and has moved to a neurology ward as he is now breathing on his own with help from humidified oxygen through his tracheotomy tube.

"Sam is undergoing daily therapy for short amounts of time each day. He seems more alert now as they have stopped his sedation and the drain tube from his head has been removed.

Sam's dad set up a donation page.
GoFundMe

"Sam's movement is still limited to slight movement on his right side with little to no movement on his left side. He communicates by squeezing our hand one for 'yes', two for 'no'.

"Sam is stable and we have been told his recovery will be slow however there will be improvements but we don't know to what extent.

"Sam is trying very hard and understands commands and everything we say. Sam's next goal is to have the tracheostomy tube removed, if all goes to plan we expect this over the coming week.

"I just wanted to be clear to everyone how the funds will be utilised and ensure you all I am Sam's dad and have Sam's best interest in mind. I will be withdrawing and managing the funds and will issue them as the expenses of Sam's recovery arise."

He added: "Thank you again to everyone for your generous support, we can't explain how much this means to Sam's recovery."

You can get more information and donate to Sam's fund here.

Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe

Topics: World News, Australia, Health

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