Farmer Wants a Wife star Brad Crane reveals harrowing ordeal that nearly claimed the life of bride Stacie: 'I thought she was going to die'
Brad Crane has opened up about a medical emergency that almost claimed the life of his wife Stacie Marmion.
The couple, who found love on the 2009 season of Farmer Wants A Wife, became one of the reality series' greatest success stories, having since welcomed three children into the world.
Speaking to Woman's Day, Brad, 45, revealed that his world came crashing down back in 2023, when Stacie, 42, unexpectedly collapsed.
The incident occurred just prior to daughter Darcie, 12, competing in a zone athletics carnival.
Brad was forced to leap into action to perform CPR on Stacie, who was later revealed to have suffered a brain aneurysm before she was airlifted to hospital.
The celebrity farmer said that he was told to expect the worst.
'I thought she was going to die in the helicopter,' he said.
'I chartered a plane and flew to Sydney. They operated on her and I was told to prepare myself because she would have no quality of life and wouldn't be able to walk or talk.'
Upon arriving at the hospital, Stacie was placed in an induced coma, that was expected to last 10 weeks.
However, Stacie woke up from her coma later that day.
Brad added that Stacie's team of neurosurgeons were shocked at Stacie's miraculous recovery.
While explaining that Stacie would be unable to stand for 10 weeks, the neurosurgeons were surprised again when they witnessed Stacie stand by the side of her hospital bed.
'She took a couple of steps two days after the operation and the surgeons were gobsmacked,' Brad said.
'They said, "It's not medically possible, it's a miracle, so someone up there was looking after you!'"
The cattle farmer added that the horrific ordeal had made him appreciate every moment with his family.
'It certainly made us reassess a few things,' he said.
'Sometimes you get so caught up on the little things and now we realise life is a blessing.
'We have each other and three wonderful, healthy kids. We're pretty lucky. We're blessed.'
Brad and Stacie found love on the 2009 iteration of Farmer Wants A Wife and became engaged just six months after the finale aired.
The couple tied the knot the following year and have since welcomed three daughters, Darcie, 12, Bobbie, 10, and Frankie, 7.
'We are happiest just enjoying each other's company. Stacie is my best mate,' Brad told Woman's Day in 2019.
Stacie added: 'Sometimes we go to bed together and wake up and there are one, two or even three kids in bed with us.'
In recent years, the family were forced to temporarily abandon their farm business, with Brad having to put a lot of their livestock down after several droughts.
'We might get a shower, but the cattle were weak – they would drop to the ground and you couldn't get them up,' he said.
'I honestly think I put down 40 cattle. They could have been worth $1500 each. That's $60,000.'
Speaking to Mamamia in October, Stacie admitted the drought 'knocked them for six' but they had no choice but to 'soldier on' for their children.
She said that they have since used Brad's skills as an electrician to create a contracting business, and now have six employees.
'That put us in a better position. These old blokes that have had farms for generations and generations, they've got nothing,' she said.
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