From Teething to a Life-or-Death Fight: Tobias’s Story

At just four months old, Tobias’s parents thought he was teething. But within hours, he was fighting for his life.

Rushed from Cairns to Townsville, Tobias’s mum Katie flew beside him, while dad Stephen and the kids drove—unsure if they’d arrive in time. What began as an ordinary day became every parent’s worst nightmare. Tobias had meningococcal disease and was critically unwell.

“We had to let him decide whether to stay or go,” said Katie. “There was never a choice for us. We weren’t going anywhere.”

To survive, Tobias needed all four limbs amputated. Every moment was touch and go.

“At first it was minute by minute… then hour by hour. Then back to minute by minute.”

Through the most traumatic time of their lives, Ronald McDonald House was their lifeline. Katie and Stephen stayed 169 nights — supported with meals, a warm bed, and space for their other children to stay close.

“Without Ronald McDonald House, we wouldn’t have made it. It kept our family together and gave us one less thing to worry about.”

Today, Tobias is thriving — still facing challenges, still returning for care, and still supported by RMHC North Australia.

Your donation helps families like Tobias’s stay together through medical crisis. TOGETHER, we can be the difference.