Mark had his son in a hospital bed in Brisbane, their car back in Kingaroy and no bag of clothes with them.
His boy had been airlifted after a collision with a Hilux. His shirt had been cut off. All he had to wear was the pair of trackies he had arrived in.
So Mark put a post in Blokes Advice. He wanted to know where he could buy some cheap shirts and undies near the hospital.
That was the ask. A bit of local knowledge from the boys.
What followed was $370 for essentials, a shopping trip on Father’s Day and a bloke giving up the better part of a day to help get them home.
The blokes took it from there
In his first post, Mark explained that his son had been taken by ambulance to Kingaroy Hospital, then flown to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane the following morning.
They had left in a hurry. Mark had barely ventured beyond the hospital on previous visits, and with his car still in Kingaroy, even getting some clothes meant working out where to go and how to get there.
Blokes Advice stepped in to cover what the young fella needed.
“Blokes Advice will shout him what he needs”
Blokes Advice, in the comments
We put together $370 for his clothes and essentials, with some left over for when they got home. It was funded by your orders and the BA Shout.
Other members offered to buy clothes, do a shop and drop, or help at the Kingaroy end. One offered to come over for a coffee with Mark. The replies were full of people finding something they could do.
A lift to Target. On Father’s Day.
Scotty was nearby and put his hand up.
On Father’s Day, he gave up part of his day to drive to the hospital, pick Mark up and take him to Target.
Mark came back with an update. Scotty had taken him shopping, Blokes Advice had sorted the clothes and there was a gift card as well.
“Young fella is clean now and in some fresh new target merch.”
Mark
Underneath was a photo of his boy in fresh clothes, sitting up in bed with his arm bandaged and his other hand giving a thumbs-up.
Mark even added a very dad-like observation: “Ps i know he needs a haircut”.
Ready to leave hospital. Still stuck in Brisbane.
A few days later, Mark posted again. His boy was being discharged. Mark said his injuries were under control and he no longer needed observation.
Now he just wanted to get him home.
According to Mark, his son could not fly because of the swelling in his head. A one-way hire car had not worked out, his wife could not drive, and their own car was still at Kingaroy Hospital.
The transport the hospital could arrange meant a train to Caboolture, then a bus to Kingaroy. The next service was the following afternoon. After everything his boy had been through, Mark did not want to put him through that journey.
So he asked the group again.
“I honestly hate asking again after how much support you blokes have already given us, but I’m a bit stuck.”
Mark
Joe put his hand up
The replies came in again. Blokes offered to drive after work. Others offered money for fuel.
Joe sent Mark a message and left an offer in the comments:
“I’m ready to leave Woodridge when you call.”
Joe
Joe followed through. He drove Mark and his son back to Kingaroy, helping get the young fella home to his own bed that same evening.
The better part of an eight-hour round trip, out of his own day.
Home safe and sound
Then came the final update.
“We are now home safe and sound”
Mark, in his final update
Mark thanked Blokes Advice, LifeFlight, Kingaroy Hospital, the Queensland Children’s Hospital and the Queensland Ambulance Service. He also gave Joe’s “wonderful fiesta” a mention.
The emergency services and hospital teams had cared for his boy. Around that care, the blokes had sorted the clothes, the shopping trip and the drive back.
In his final update, Mark shared a photo of the young fella out of hospital, wearing a Blokes Advice polo with his arm still in a sling.
This is what looking after each other looks like
Between them, they took a few things off a dad’s shoulders when he had enough on his plate.
To Scotty, Joe and every bloke who helped or offered: thank you.
And if you are having a rough time and holding back because you hate asking, let Mark’s story be a reason to reach out.
Blokes helping blokes.