Rural Queensland family struggle to find home in Brisbane after dad’s shock diagnosis leaves him comatose

A regional Queensland family is struggling to find a temporary home in Brisbane after being forced to relocate to be with their dad who is in a coma after suffering serious complications during an operation.

A quintessential Aussie dad from rural Queensland who regularly kept himself busy with camping and fishing, is now in a coma in Brisbane as his family scrambles to put a roof over their heads.

High school sweethearts Leisa and Dan Rutledge were the “average family” living in Yeppoon with their three teenage children, when Dan started having sinus problems.

Dan is now in hospital in Brisbane. Picture: Supplied.

A trip to the specialist found a brain tumour the size of a golf ball blocking two of the three drainage holes in his brain.

Dan, 44, was flown to Brisbane for his surgery where he was met by his wife Leisa, 42, the night before.

“He was pretty relaxed because the surgeon was saying he would be walking again in two to three days and back to work in a few weeks,” Leisa said.

But following the surgery, Dan suffered a seizure that has now left him ventilated and in a coma for almost three weeks.

“I try to be so strong but it’s really hard because you still have to be a mum, “ Leisa said.

“The doctors can’t give me any outlook until he wakes up, or when he wakes up, as to how long his recovery will be.”

Dan Rutledge in a Brisbane hospital. Picture: Supplied.

With no definitive understanding of how long the Yeppoon-based family will be settling in Brisbane for, Leisa’s tried to find a short term rental for her and her three kids aged 13, 14 and 16.

“I’ve been trying to speak to social workers for accommodation but if you look at holiday places it’s $2,000 for the week, and Airbnb is upwards of $5,000 for a week which is ridiculous,” she said.

“I’ve been asking around for short term rentals, but everywhere wants a 12 month lease signed. I get it, with the floods and everything that’s happened down here, but it is hard for people who need to come here from rural areas.”

Accommodation organised by the hospitals has been completely booked out, according to Leisa who said the family had essentially exhausted all other options.

“They have motel rooms as well, but it’s only one room with a queen and two singles and no real amenities. We stayed there for a week previously, but it does get hard, especially with the three kids” she said.

“We just need something practical, it doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to be a base for us while we’re here, however long that could be.”

Dan, Leisa and their three kids Chelsea, Hayden, Sienna. Picture: Supplied.

Leisa, who works in a primary school administrations office, said she’s already used all of her leave on Covid early this year and is now stuck paying her mortgage in Yeppoon without an income.

“Some days I feel like I have it, and other days I’m a mess. I’m the decision maker, I have to make medical decisions, I need to have a financial plan, and a plan for the kids, and it’s just a lot,” she said.

Despite being uprooted from their school and part time jobs, Leisa said her kids were handling the shocking situation maturely but found themselves struggling to see their dad in his current state.

“My husband is such a typical Aussie dad, he’s always doing something, fishing and camping, he’s always been busy,” she said.

“The kids have really struggled seeing him how he is, when they’re so used to seeing him so active and busy.”

Dan Rutledge, before the family discovered his brain tumour. Picture: Supplied.

But for Leisa herself, the hardest part is not having her partner by her side and not knowing what the future will hold.

“We’ve been together since I was 16. We’ve always been together, this is the longest I‘ve ever spoken to him,” she said.

“Tomorrow is my birthday, and I’ve never had a birthday where he’s not able to speak to me.”

Leisa’s sister has also set up a GoFundMe for the family which has already attracted more than $20,000 to cover growing medical costs.

Originally published as Rural Queensland family struggle to find home in Brisbane after dad’s shock diagnosis leaves him comatose