Yeppoon miner Dan Rutledge makes miracle recovery from brain tumour

A Central Qld miner has beaten the odds and received ‘the best present’ he could ask for, coming home after being told he wouldn’t survive until Christmas.

Dan Rutledge made a miracle recovery from a brain tumour which was found during testing for a respiratory clinic.

A routine scan to try put a stop to loud snoring shattered a Central Queensland family when it uncovered a life-threatening brain tumour.

Hands-on dad-of-three Dan Rutledge, 44, and his wife Leisa, could never have foreseen the trials that lay before them as Dan learned he would need brain surgery and then have to spend months in a Brisbane hospital because of complications.

Dan, who worked as an explosives supervisor at Curragh Mine near Blackwater, booked into the respiratory clinic in May after Leisa noticed his snoring had worsened.

“They just did some basic testing which included CT scans and an MRI and the scans found a tumour on his brain,” she said.

“They referred us to a neurologist and they said Dan would need surgery … if he didn’t have the surgery he probably wouldn’t be here at Christmas.”

The golf ball sized tumour was benign but it’s positioning was a little more sinister.

Dan Rutledge made a miracle recovery from a brain tumour which was found during testing for a respiratory clinic.

It was attached to a major blood vessel and was blocking two holes where brain fluid could drain.

“Initially I was worried about dying and leaving my family, but the surgeon told me that I would be home within a week so that gave me some reassurance,” Dan said.

“(My initial reaction was) to reassure my wife and children that it would be OK. I didn't want them to worry about me.”

Leisa said the surgeon expected Dan would have surgery in Brisbane and be back home within a week.

“A few days after the surgery things really started to decline,” she said.

“Dan was put in an induced coma because his brain fluid wouldn’t fill back up.

“He’s also got brain stem damage because his brain dried and fell onto the stem … so there’s long lasting permanent damage and he had a stroke from that.

Dan Rutledge made a miracle recovery from a brain tumour which was found during testing for a respiratory clinic.

“They didn’t expect him to survive.”

Dan spent five weeks in a coma, and has since spent six months in Brisbane with Leisa and his kids Chelsea, Hayden and Sienna by his side.

“I was confused, shocked and couldn’t understand how this could of happened,” he said.

The kids originally stayed with their grandparents, but then joined Leisa to be by their Dad’s side – doing their schooling at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital.

Leisa also struggled to find a rental property in Brisbane while Dan recovered.

She said they hadn’t expected to be able to go home until the new year but her husband’s recovery had meant doctors gave him permission to check out in time for Christmas.

“We changed hospitals and surgeons, and they said to be prepared for a long road ahead and it was a bit of a miracle he’s recovered quite well,” she said.

“We can’t wait to go home, I came with five sets of clothes, expecting we’d be home after the surgery. Being home for Christmas is one of the best presents ever.”

Dan and Leisa Rutledge with their kids Hayden, Sienna and Chelsea.

Now back at their Yeppoon home, Dan will continue rehabilitation including speech therapy and physiotherapy.

But for now, he’s enjoying being home with family.

“It feels good as there is no place like home,” he said.

“I feel more relaxed and to be home with my family is the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for.”

Leisa said over the next 12 months she would be Dan’s carer, helping him with rehabilitation and adapting to life.

“It’s going to be a challenge, Dan is very hands on and very handy, he’s done a lot of things around the house, so he will struggle not being able to do those kinds of things,” she said.

“He wanted to build a fence around the yard and then this happened.”

Dan Rutledge made a miracle recovery from a brain tumour which was found during testing for a respiratory clinic.

While they’ve been away Leisa said they’ve had help from their community and even strangers.

“Our neighbours have been amazing,” she said.

“We’ve had one neighbour maintaining our yard and another, who we haven’t even met, has been looking after our dogs.

“The kids’ schools have been very supportive and so have our workplaces.”

She shared a special thank you for those who have supported them through their journey so far.

“I just want to say thank you to the schools, work, our neighbours and strangers who have gone to do simple things around the house, sent us UberEats vouchers so we can have a takeaway night, watered plants and looked after our house,” she said.

“We’ve been blown away by the amount of support from the people in Yeppoon and Rocky who have helped us through this whole journey.”