Her partner Steven O’Connor, 33, an excavator driver for a Wollongong earthmoving company, was involved in a horrific car accident at Barrengarry near Kangaroo Valley in the early hours of May 12.

He was on his way to a job in Nowra.

He sustained multiple injuries and was airlifted to St George Hospital.

He was placed in an induced coma.

“Steve’s femur was broken in three different spots as well as on his right arm between his elbow and wrist,” Ms Vinton said.

“He also sustained damage to his C2 and C4 vertebrae in his spine and had to have two screws put in place to knit the bone back together.

He had to be cut out of the car, and it took the emergency services about two hours to get him out safely and ready to be put in the helicopter.”

Due to the nature of the injuries to his neck and spinal area, it was thought that Mr O’Connor also suffered a small stroke.

He sustained a tear to his small and large bowel and has had a temporary colostomy bag attached.

He endured more than six bouts of surgery over a nine day period to fix the arm and the leg injuries as well as to the neck and bowel.

Ms Vinton has been by his bedside the whole time and has been posting regular Facebook updates on his recovery process.

“They started to bring him out of the coma on Friday and we would get excited at the slightest blink of an eye or twitch of a finger to let us know he was OK,” she said.

“We even got a smile from him the other day which was wonderful.”

As of Sunday morning, Ms Vinton said that Steve was starting to get movement back in his arms and legs and communicating a lot better.

“He is on nil by mouth at the moment due to the tube down his throat keeping his airways open,” she said.

“He is also showing signs every day that there have been no effects from the stroke.”

Ms Vinton praised the efforts of staff at St George Hospital.

“The staff in the Intensive Care Unit were exceptional, and you couldn’t fault their level of care,” she said.

Ms Vinton indicated that Steve would be transferred to Goulburn Base Hospital in the near future.

She also praised the efforts of friends and local businesses who have supported the family over the last two weeks.

“Dan Townsend down at Revolution CD in the mall near Subway has offered to set up a donation tin in his shop for Steve’s recovery,” she said.

“Some of my workmates at Warrigal have also helped by dropping off a load of wood and one of the cleaning staff came to clean up our house.

I also found out today that Warrigal staff have been giving donations.

“So many friends have stopped in to check on things, and to help my eldest daughter out. It is sad that people come together in hard times, but it also goes to show how amazing and helpful people can be.

“Steve is my ‘happily ever after’ and even though this accident has been a tough time for us all, we still manage to get up and keep going.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up by friend Laura Howlett to help the fundraising which will aid in Steve’s recovery.

“If you can spare even just $2 to help assist this amazingly caring family through this very, very difficult time, it would be appreciated greatly,” Ms Howlett said.

“$2 is less than the price of a cup of coffee, but if we all pitch in and donate, it can make such an overwhelming difference to this family.”

To donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com/un386s.