WHEN accountant Stephen Turner suffered a sudden brain aneurysm a week before Christmas 2024, his family was told the mortality rate was 50 percent.
“I was just at the gym, doing my regular workout, nothing too strenuous when I felt this sudden huge headache – they call it a thunderclap headache,” Mr Turner said.
“I stumbled to the staff and said I needed help, they called my wife and the ambulance and that’s the last thing I remember for a month,” he said.
He was flown to Townsville Hospital’s neurology unit where he underwent three rounds of surgery to release the pressure on his brain and insert a shunt, which he will now live with permanently.
“I have no memory of that month – I have texts that I was sending my friends saying, ‘I’ve got to go, I’m having surgery’, but I have no recollection of any of that at all,” he said.
He was then transferred back to Cairns Hospital’s rehabilitation ward where he spent a month recuperating and was released on Valentine’s Day.
“They tell me it hasn’t caused any permanent damage – they can’t even see where the bleed was now on MRI’s but I do have some short-term memory loss which is getting better with time.
“My AFL mates really rallied behind me and organised a fundraiser, which I told them I wanted to go to the Hospital Foundation for that unit. That was very successful and raised $3000 at the annual Masters carnival in early March, which was great. I count my blessings every day. Without my wife Sandra, sons Sam and Jake I wouldn’t have been able to get through this. Also, to my footy mates, Gavin Moyle, Greg Lees and Matt Hanson and the rest of the boys from the Cairns Stingers they were invaluable and always there for me. They will be my friends forever,” Mr Turner said.
Cairns Hospital neurology nurse Belinda Harrison said Mr Turner’s suffered some cognitive decline that needed intense rehabilitation, with occupational therapists working with him daily.
“Stephen has a very supportive wife and son at home, and this was pivotal in his recovery, which has been a slow process but his motivation to get better was impressive,” Ms Harrison said.
Funds raised at the football carnival have been donated to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, specifically for use in the rehab ward where he spent almost two months.
Already equipment bought with the donations have arrived at the Rehab Unit at Cairns Hospital.
Ms Harrison said a hearing amplifier was used to help patients with impaired hearing – with the capacity to be used with a phone or as a microphone with headphones.
Numbing devices also have been purchased to alleviate injection pain for stroke patients who receive treatment.
“Sometimes a patient’s arm will contract in a position and Botox helps release the contraction and give relief from the pain. Numbing devices act like an ice pack by numbing the area where the Botox is injected. It only lasts for a short time but it’s enough to reduce the pain in receiving the injection,” Ms Harrison said.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said Mr Turner’s story was an impressive one of the power of an individual’s personal experience driving his community and loved ones to rally on his behalf.
“We see it so often where an individual and their loved ones are so motivated by their experience that they want to do something to support others in the same situation. It’s yet another example of what makes the Far North Queensland community so great,” Mrs Hogan said.
Photo: Stephen Turner with Cairns Hospital neurology nurse Belinda Harrison and some of the equipment his footy mates helped fundraise for.
