Three and a half months after surviving a terrifying shark attack that cost her left arm, Australian mother Leah Stewart has shared a difficult update about her recovery.

The 34-year-old Sydney mother revealed that her latest skin graft has failed, leaving doctors uncertain about what the next stage of her treatment will look like.

Stewart shared the emotional update on Instagram after having the graft examined.

“Unfortunately this is not the post I was wanting to do but I had my graft checked yesterday and it was confirmed that it failed,” she said.

The news left Stewart feeling devastated after months of surgeries, treatment and rehabilitation.

She explained that the affected area on her leg is still healing and remains open more than three months after the attack.

“I am feeling pretty devastated, had quite a few tears and now we’re not really sure where to go from here,” she said.

Despite the setback, Stewart said doctors are trying a different approach as she continues her recovery.

For the moment, she is taking a break from the vacuum-assisted closure, or VAC, device that has been used during her treatment. The medical system uses controlled suction to help manage wounds and support the healing process.

Stewart said the change has allowed her to move around somewhat more freely.

A SECOND SKIN GRAFT HAS FAILED

The failed procedure was Stewart’s second skin-graft attempt.

She explained that doctors had taken skin from her right thigh and attempted to use it on her left leg.

While the donor area is continuing to heal, the grafted area did not take as hoped.

Stewart even decided to show followers part of her recovery for the first time, admitting that she felt nervous about sharing the images.

“I haven’t shown my legs yet so I’m a little nervous about this,” she told viewers.

Rather than hiding the difficult reality of her recovery, Stewart chose to be open with the people who have followed her journey since the attack.

And despite the disappointment, she ended her message with a determined outlook:

“Anyway we keep moving forward.”

 THE ATTACK THAT CHANGED HER LIFE

Stewart was attacked by a shark while swimming near Coogee Beach in Australia on June 13.

She was reportedly swimming close to shore and between the flags when the terrifying encounter occurred.

The attack left her critically injured and ultimately resulted in the amputation of her left arm below the elbow.

Stewart spent 10 days in a medically induced coma and underwent multiple surgeries as doctors worked to stabilize her condition.

A number of people played important roles in getting her to safety, including a world champion paddleboarder who helped bring her back to shore, a trauma doctor who happened to be nearby, lifesavers and police officers.

For Stewart, surviving was only the beginning of an extraordinarily difficult recovery.

HER STORY ALSO SPARKED ONLINE DEBATE

Earlier this month, Stewart publicly described the terrifying moments of the attack during an interview with Australia’s 60 Minutes.

She recalled thinking about her daughter as she struggled to survive and said she fought back during the encounter.

Her account subsequently attracted criticism online, with some people questioning whether someone in such a frightening situation could remember specific details of the experience.

Radio host and former AFL player Brendan Fevola publicly questioned aspects of Stewart’s account, particularly her recollection of fighting back against the shark.

But shark expert Joel Nancarrow strongly defended Stewart and criticized those attacking her online.

Nancarrow argued that judging or accusing a survivor of exaggeration while she was fighting for her life was deeply unfair.

He also pushed back against comments suggesting that people should simply accept shark encounters because humans enter the animals’ natural environment.

His message emphasized that regardless of where such an encounter occurs, the human consequences can be devastating.

FROM SURVIVAL TO A LONG ROAD AHEAD

Stewart’s story has now moved far beyond the moment of the attack.

She survived a life-threatening encounter, endured a prolonged hospital stay, underwent multiple procedures and woke from a medically induced coma to begin an entirely different chapter of her life.

Now, months later, she is still facing difficult medical setbacks.

The failed skin graft means her recovery will continue to require patience, treatment and medical care. While the latest news has clearly taken an emotional toll, Stewart’s decision to share the setback also shows the reality of recovery: progress is not always a straight line.

For a mother determined to be there for her daughter, every difficult step forward remains part of the journey.

And after everything she has already survived, Stewart is once again facing another challenge with the same message she has continued to carry throughout her recovery:

Keep moving forward.