Franco's Farewell: A Father's Last Moments Before the Fight for Life

A Tragic Turn of Events

Franco Liebenberg, a 38-year-old father of two, faced a life-threatening situation in June when he suffered a brain aneurysm. The incident has left his family in a state of shock and uncertainty, as they now navigate the challenges of his recovery.

Franco was working from home on the Gold Coast when his wife, Eloise, and their children found him on the bathroom floor. He had been experiencing seizures for up to five hours before his wife discovered him and immediately called emergency services.

"I went into fight or flight mode. I got the kids to get my phone to call the ambulance," Mrs. Liebenberg recalled. "The kids freaked out, screaming, crying. I just told them, 'Don't look, just sit tight.'"

Paramedics arrived within 15 minutes and managed to stabilize Franco. A scan revealed that he had suffered a ruptured subarachnoid brain aneurysm, which left doctors warning the family to prepare for the worst.

"They didn't think he'd survive. But Franco did, by the grace of God, he made it through emergency brain surgery, and he's still here," she said.

A Long Road to Recovery

Since the incident, Franco has had to relearn how to move, speak, and perform daily tasks. He remained motionless and on a ventilator in intensive care for three weeks before being transferred to the neurological and rehabilitation wards.

He has undergone eight major procedures, including the installation of a permanent brain shunt and eye surgery after being declared legally blind.

"The fact that he's still here is a massive miracle because of the severity of (the haemorrhage). I think that's what's getting us through this, even if it takes years for him to recover," Mrs. Liebenberg said.

Impact on the Family

The couple's children, Delano, 8, and Ava, 7, have also been deeply affected by the event. They were unable to sleep alone for weeks after witnessing their father's medical episode.

"They couldn't be in the dark. They couldn't go into a bathroom without somebody being there," their mother said. "They have their outbursts. It's always going to be tough."

"It's hard for them to see their dad like this, because it's not the dad and the personality that he used to have so it is difficult."

A Life Transformed

Before the aneurysm, Franco was a man full of passion, energy, and purpose with a thriving career in construction and a love of the outdoors.

"He is a devoted dad, an incredible one. A loving husband, a cherished friend, and a beloved son," she said. "The main areas that were damaged are his cognitive side and his memory. Unfortunately, the personality was affected as well, but he's slowly getting there."

A New Beginning in Australia

Franco and Eloise, who are both from South Africa, met 18 years ago in the city of George, in the Western Cape. They married in 2015, spending the next decade traveling and living abroad in Brazil and then New Zealand where they had their children and gained citizenship.

The Liebenbergs moved to Australia in 2023 for a better quality of life. However, due to Franco's status as a New Zealand citizen, he does not qualify for NDIS support. This means while his hospital care is covered, any future rehabilitation, equipment, transport, and alternative therapies will be at their own expense.

A GoFundMe Campaign

To help afford the daily therapy, medical equipment, and specialized care Franco will need, Mrs. Liebenberg has set up a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $12,600 so far.

"From there, it's on us and, because he still would need therapy for such a long time, that's why I started the GoFundMe page to support him. We just want to keep that going and make sure we don't run out of funds to help him get better and be the man he used to be."