Stabbing at Peace Lutheran College: Melody Neal’s Incredible Story of Recovery After Schoolgirl Fights for Life and Can’t Walk or Talk
- Melody Neal was allegedly stabbed at school
- I spent a month in a coma, fighting for life
- Her parents were told she might not be able to walk
- Three months later, Melody is back at school
The family of a talented artist who was left fighting for life after she was allegedly stabbed by a classmate has broken their silence over the harrowing ordeal and fear she may not survive.
Melody Neal, 18, was reportedly stabbed several times by fellow student Marc Rajan Taylor, 18, during recess at Peace Lutheran College near Cairns in far north Queensland in May.
The Year 12 student was taken in critical condition to Townsville Hospital, 220 miles away, where she was in a coma for a month and had half her liver removed.
Melody’s parents were in Vietnam at the time and let Grace run home, not knowing if she would still cling to life by the time they reached her hospital bed.
Sharon Guest and Stuart Neal were told that if their daughter made it out, she might never walk again after three spinal nerves were severed.
Melody Neal (pictured) is back at school part-time three months after she was nearly stabbed to death by a classmate
Doctors also warned that the damage to Melody’s liver was much worse than initially thought.
When she finally regained consciousness, it would be another fifteen days before she could talk or walk.
Three months later, the brave teen, affectionately nicknamed “Bi-Bi,” has made remarkable progress in her recovery.
Melody’s walking is almost back normal and has returned to school hoping to complete her year 12 studies this year.
The gifted artist is also drawing again and regularly shares her cartoon designs on social media.
Ms. Guest recalled the moment she found out her daughter was fighting for life when she opened up about Melody’s incredible recovery.
“Three hours later we got on a plane, it took three flights to get to Australia and I thought the whole time I was going to go back and visit a mortuary,” she told the Cairns Post.
“I simply don’t have the words to explain what that feeling was like.”
Ms Guest said the next few weeks were volatile as Melody’s life was on the line.
Brave teen Melody Neal is drawing again and sharing her artwork on social media as her recovery continues
“Anytime it looked like she was getting better, something happened: an infection or bleeding occurred. Just when it looked like she was going to be taken out of intensive care, she started having massive bleeding in her gut,” she recalls.
Melody still has severe pain in her right leg.
“Honestly, I still think she’s in shock. But at the moment she is fine,” Ms. Guest said.
Melody and her parents recently released a joint statement thanking Peace Lutheran College for the outpouring of support they had received.
“During Melody’s protracted recovery, parents, teachers and students sent gifts, vouchers and prayers in a tsunami of compassion and care,” the statement said.
Melody (pictured on holiday before the alleged stabbing) had to undergo dialysis after half of her kidney was removed
The family recently met with employees who saved Melody’s life to “thank them from the bottom of our hearts.”
Police, who described the alleged stabbing as “gruesome,” later found a knife at the scene.
Marc Rajan Taylor, 18, was charged with attempted murder and remains behind bars.
He will appear in court again at a later date.
Melody Neal has made a remarkable recovery since the harrowing ordeal