Rising Sydney model’s life shattered after sudden stroke leaves her paralysed from neck down at 26

Just 26 years old, Amelia Keam was full of life — until a sudden stroke left her paralysed and fighting for every breath.

The young Sydney woman was having a fun night out with two friends at The Hamilton Station Hotel in Newcastle on March 22, when she suddenly felt dizzy, lost consciousness and went into cardiac arrest.

Two off-duty Australian Federal Police officers who happened to be nearby, and are trained first responders, rushed to perform CPR on her until the ambulance arrived.

Keam’s heart had stopped, but she was revived at the scene and rushed to John Hunter Hospital, where doctors placed her in an induced coma to stabilise her condition.

The stroke disrupted the blood flow to the connection between her brainstem and spinal cord, which controls motor reflexes.

As a result, Keam is now paralysed from the neck down and relies on a ventilator to breathe.

This outcome is one that neither Keam nor her loved ones could have ever imagined.

“How does this happen to a 26-year-old female that goes to the gym every single day?” her father, Stephen Keam, said through tears in an interview with 7NEWS.com.au.

So much ahead of her

As a psychology graduate, Keam worked as a support coordinator at a mental health facility, driven by what her childhood friend Chloe Gillette describes as “a deep passion for helping others”.

She loved exploring new places and spending time with family and friends.

Before the stroke, Keam, or “Amy” as her friends and family lovingly call her, led a vibrant and active lifestyle.

“She is really active, like she loves being outdoors, hiking, like going to the gym and different sports and things like that,” Gillette told 7NEWS.com.au.

Outside of work, Keam also worked part-time as a model and was preparing to further her studies, aiming to pursue a master’s degree in marketing.

Gillette, who has known Keam for 18 years, described her as someone with a unique sense of humor and an infectious personality.

“She has a very different sense of humour but you’d always have a good laugh with her. She’s just a really beautiful soul,” Gillette said.

Stephen described his daughter as “one of the softest people I’ve ever known”.

“She’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever known inside and out,” Stephen said, choking up as he spoke.

“I was, and still am, incredibly proud of her.

“Even though she can’t move at all, she lies there, unable to swallow, breathe, or speak.

“Yet, she remains perfectly polite to everyone who comes near her. She says ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ and it’s just phenomenal.”

“She smiles, she’s still cracking jokes. She can’t move. She’s a complete quadriplegic … she’s making everybody else laugh around. She’s been very, very strong

“I don’t know how she’s not angry at the world,” he added, struggling to hold back tears.

Long, uncertain road ahead

Once a vibrant, energetic, and ambitious woman, Keam now faces a life where communication is reduced to the subtle movements of her eyes and lips.

“She’s quite aware of what’s happening which I don’t know that kinda makes it worse in some ways,” Gillette said, fighting back tears.

Alongside Keam’s father and sister, Chloe and five other close friends have been taking turns to care for her at John Hunter Hospital, providing constant support as she fights to regain some independence, before she was transferred to Prince of Wales hospital over the weekend.

Stephen said doctors had initially discussed the possibility of euthanasia, before realising Keam could recover with intensive rehabilitation — a long and challenging process.

Every small movement, even the ones most people would take for granted, now requires assistance.

To provide the best possible care, a team of specialists is required to be involved in her rehabilitation.

Spinal and neurology specialists, physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and social workers work together, ensuring Keam’s physical, emotional, and psychological needs are met — with the unwavering support of her family and friends.

In a desperate bid to be closer to Keam, Stephen is trying to move from Mackay in Queensland to Newcastle, so he won’t have to travel and can be there more easily.

Though he remains incredibly proud of Keam’s resilience, Stephen admitted he’s been breaking down from time to time.

“We have no clue on how long it’s going to be, but … she won’t be coming out of hospital for a very very long time,” Stephen said.

In light of the mounting challenges, Gillette has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Keam’s recovery.

“We are reaching out to you today to ask for your support as Amelia navigates this extremely difficult chapter in her life,” Gillette wrote.

“Spinal rehabilitation is critical to helping Amelia regain as much function as possible after her spinal injury.

“Early intervention is essential to prevent further complications and reduce the length of her hospitalisation.

“She is facing mounting medical expenses, including treatments, therapies, and daily living costs, which are adding up quickly.

“Amelia’s road to recovery may be long, but with your help, we remain hopeful.”