“I am constantly overwhelmed at how supportive people I know, and even strangers, have been,” Leah Stewart said

NEED TO KNOW

• Leah Stewart, 34, paused donations to a GoFundMe for her family after it raised more than $400,000 following the June shark attack that led to the amputation of her arm
• Stewart said the support has given her family enough financial stability to focus on recovery and future medical care, adding that she is beginning to regain some independence
• Leah previously described the attack as “horrific” in an on-camera interview, adding that the thought of her toddler daughter helped her stay determined to survive

A woman who had her arm amputated after a terrifying shark attack has paused donations on a fundraiser established for her and her family after a flood of support from strangers.

Leah Stewart was taking a swim in the waters off Australia’s Coogee Beach in Sydney on the morning of June 13 when she was attacked by a shark and “sustained severe and life-threatening injuries,” according to a press release previously obtained by PEOPLE.

According to a verified GoFundMe established by her brother, Joshua Stewart, Leah, 34, experienced “severe blood loss” and was placed on life support after the attack. Her treatment also “required the amputation of her arm.”

Now, over eight weeks after the attack, Leah has decided to shut down donations after the fundraiser raised more than $400,000 for her family.

“I want to say the biggest thank you for looking after me, for caring for my family, and for being generous enough to help my family through this,” she wrote in an update on the fundraising page on Aug. 22. 

“I am constantly overwhelmed at how supportive people I know, and even strangers, have been, and how much they’ve cared about my family to make such an impact on our lives,” she added.

“At this point, I think it’s appropriate for us to turn off donations on the GoFundMe, because what you’ve offered has given us enough to recover, to stay in our home, and to give us options for further medical treatment down the road,” Stewart continued.

The teacher and mom of one also said that she has progressed enough in her recovery “to build some independence,” adding, “I can finally see some light after all of this.”

Leah added that the outpouring of support from so many people has inspired her to extend that same kindness to others and “give back.”

“I want you to know that I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life, and I’m not going to waste it,” she wrote. “As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance and aim to give back even more in generosity, care, and love.”

She added: “You’ve inspired me to get better, not bitter. Love, Leah.”

In a previous interview with Nine Network’s 60 Minutes, Leah described the attack as “horrific.”

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She said the thought of her 18-month-old daughter, Autumn, kept her focused on survival during those terrifying moments.

“[The shark] was holding on to my leg, and then I just thought of August, and I thought, ‘She’s not going to have a mom,’ ” Stewart said through tears during the interview. “ ‘She’s going to grow up without a mom.’ I couldn’t handle that.”

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