Content Warning:Some parts of this story, including descriptions and videos, may be upsetting. Please read with care.

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A Walk We’ll Never Forget

Last Friday, December 20, 2024, at 8:15 PM, my family and I headed out for our usual evening walk around the block.

It was a beautiful evening. The sunset was stunning, and we’d had such a great day together for what we call “Family Friday.” We were winding down and enjoying the fresh air.

Our two oldest kids, Marni (9) and Reilley (6), rode ahead on their bikes like they usually do. Tash and I followed behind with the little ones, Lilliana (2) and Esther (1), taking our time and soaking up the moment.

This walk is something we’ve done countless times. It’s short—just 10 minutes. We never imagined how quickly everything could change.

The Moment Everything Changed

At 8:22 PM, the peace of the evening shattered.

We suddenly heard the most gut-wrenching scream. Marni came running toward us, tears streaming down her face.

“Mama! Reilley, he can’t talk, he can't talk, he’s unconscious!”

I can still hear her voice in my head. It’s impossible to describe that moment. Strangely enough, I’d just been recording Tash, and the video captured about two seconds of Marni’s scream.

Caution: The video is raw and may be distressing. Viewer discretion is advised.

A Sound You Never Want to Hear

That video is still hard to watch. The sound of Marni screaming is something I’ll never forget—a sound no parent ever wants to hear.

As you can see from the video, the moment I heard her, I sprinted down the street as fast as I could to find Reilley. He was at least 100 meters away.

Before I get to what I found, here’s the backstory Marni shared with us afterward.

Marni – Our Hero

As I mentioned earlier, Marni and Reilley had gone ahead on their bikes. They’re pretty competitive and love to race, so this was nothing out of the ordinary for them.

They were coming down a downhill slope that turns into our street. Reilley was ahead, and Marni was close behind.

When Marni rounded the corner onto our street, she saw Reilley lying on the road, unconscious. At first, she thought he was playing a prank and told him to get up. But then she noticed the blood on his face—and that he wasn’t moving or responding.

He wasn't wearing his helmet.

Tash told them before they raced off to put their helmets on, but kids are kids sometimes, and we were obviously too casual about it. You never expect these things to happen, especially when you've walked/biked it 100's of times. Yes, this was a freak accident, but also a massive lessson learned. I'll revisit this topic later in the blog.

So there was Reilley in the middle of the road, unconscious.

Without hesitation, Marni pulled him off the road and onto the footpath, and then she started screaming for help.

A Stranger Steps In

A man from a nearby house actually heard a thud, and then he heard Marni screaming and rushed out. He called 111 right away, and Marni, keeping her composure despite the panic, asked him to stay with Reilley while she ran to get us.

We were still at least a few minutes behind, completely unaware of what had happened. By the time Marni reached us, Reilley had been unconscious for at least a minute.

Nobody saw exactly what happened, but it was clear he had come off his bike.

Marni left Reilley in the care of the man and sprinted up the hill toward us, screaming those dreadful words.

And that’s where the video picks up.

The Truth Comes Out

As per the video above, I started sprinting down the street to find Reilley. I was carrying Lilliana at the time, so I quickly but safely dropped her on a patch of grass beside me and just ran.

While I was sprinting, I instinctively grabbed my phone and dialed 111.

Without even thinking, these words started pouring out of my mouth:

“Thank you, Jesus, for being so good to us. Thank you, Jesus, for being so good to us.”

It wasn’t planned—it was completely automatic. In moments like this, the truth of what’s inside you comes out. It’s not something you can manufacture.

The First Sight of Reilley

When I came around the corner onto our street, there was my boy, lying unconscious on the footpath, blood covering his face.

The man who had heard Marni’s screams was already on the phone with 111. I tossed my phone aside and carefully scooped Reilley into my arms—one hand supporting his head and the other on his chest.

I leaned close to him and began speaking softly but firmly in his ear:

“Peace, my boy. Peace, my boy. Peace, my boy.”

His eyes were rolling back, he was bleeding, and he was still unconscious.

The man handed me his phone to continue talking to 111, then rushed off in his van to grab a public defibrillator from a nearby location, just two minutes away.

By this time, Tash and Marni had caught up with us. They began praying and speaking life over Reilley and I kept repeating the same words into his ear:

“Peace, my boy. Peace, my boy. Peace, my boy.”

About a minute later, Reilley regained consciousness and started crying. He was in shock and pain, but it was a good sign.

Just a minute after that, the ambulance arrived, and we rushed to the Emergency Department.

It's now approx 8.35pm

Marni Saved Her Brother’s life.

As the ambulance crew prepared to take us, the wife of the man who helped us brought out a blanket to comfort Marni, who was extremely shaken. Despite her tears, she had done everything right.

Without any prior training or guidance, she instinctively knew to pull Reilley off the road, call for help, and run to get Tash and me. Her quick thinking and bravery were remarkable.

Marni saved her brother’s life.

We can't express how proud we are of her.

The Ambulance Drive

I went with Reilley in the ambulance while Tash and the girls walked back home to grab the car and meet us at the hospital.

Inside the ambulance, Reilley was drifting in and out of consciousness. His heartbeat was irregular, and there were moments when he stopped breathing.

The two female medics were awesome—and the driver’s skills were epic. I’d never been inside an ambulance before—it’s an entirely different experience when you're on the inside.

As we sped toward the hospital, I thanked the medics for their work while continuing to speak life over my boy and thank God for His goodness.

In moments like these, there’s not much you can do except rest in the One who is good. That truth was my anchor.

It's now 8.52pm.

[Video: In the Ambulance]

Tash and the Girls

While I was in the ambulance with Reilley, Tash was back home getting the girls in the car and grabbing essentials to bring to the hospital. As she was moving through the house, she overheard Marni outside, boldly declaring:

"I speak life over you, Reilley! I speak life over you!"

Knowing that our kids instinctively turn to God in moments of deep distress is one of the greatest blessings we could ask for as parents.

Genuine Peace

During all of this, both Tash and I were experiencing an unusual, unshakable peace. Yes, the fear was there—those dreaded "what if" thoughts rushed through our minds. But underneath it all was the peace that surpasses understanding.

Just two months ago, we had a caravan accident, and we shared the raw journey of that experience in real time. (You can revisit that story here.) That same peace was now carrying us through this moment, but on a much different and deeper level.

Calling On Our Kingdom Fam

Before leaving in the ambulance, I asked Tash to reach out to our Kingdom Family for prayer. When we say "pray," there’s a very specific meaning we hold to this.

In moments like this, we’re not looking for sympathy, fear, or to stir anxiety in others. We need people who truly know their position in Christ, who understand His goodness, and who walk in His authority.

We only have a handful of people in our lives who respond from a place of faith and peace—not fear or panic. It’s a depth of trust and confidence in God that can’t be faked. It’s a work of the Spirit in us as we yield.

Tash sent the message, and within minutes, the responses started pouring in—words of hope, faith, and even celebration.

These are the people we want in our corner.

Emergency Department

When we arrived at the Emergency Department, the paramedics wasted no time. They rolled Reilley straight in, and I took a moment to thank and bless the medics for their incredible work before joining the team of nurses and doctors now tending to my boy.

They cut his clothes off, attached all sorts of wires to him, and prepared a plan to get him in for a CT scan and x-rays. At this point, they fear any internal bleeding, brain damage and fractures.

Reilley Is Fully Conscious

By the time I reached Reilley on table, he was fully conscious. He was crying and clearly shaken but aware of his surroundings. He kept saying, "I want to go home!"—a good sign.

I asked if he remembered what had happened. He didn’t recall the accident itself, but he could remember the entire day leading up to it and everyone who had been a part of it.

Praise God for those reassuring signs.

Now we await a scan.

It's currently 9.24pm

[Video: Reilley in ED saying, "I want my Daddy"]

The Girls Arrive

Tash and the girls arrive just as we are about to head in for a CT scan. It's 9.47pm, just over an hour since the accident.

As soon as Marni spotted Reilley, she raced to his bedside and told him, "Reilley, I’ll buy you any lollies and toys you want."

It was such a proud moment for us as parents—seeing the deep love and care our kids have for each other, even in the most difficult moments.

[Video: Marni seeing Reilley for the first time since the accident]

CT Scan Results

The CT scan revealed no fractures or breaks anywhere in Reilley’s body. However, it also showed internal bleeding around his brain and skull.

We were immediately transferred to the ICU for overnight monitoring. The team explained that they would wake Reilley hourly to check his pupil reactivity, pain levels, and temperature. Their primary focus was on his brain, closely watching for any swelling or changes.

It's now 10.16pm, nearly two hours since the accident.

Despite the situation, we continued to experience that unusual peace. It wasn’t a peace born of ignoring reality, but one grounded in trust in God's goodness, knowing that everything would be okay.

After the scan, I stepped out to send an update to our Kingdom Family. Here’s a raw video from that moment.

[Video: Raw update video]

Transfer to ICU

Reilley is transferred to ICU. Tash and the girls head back home, and I prepare to stay overnight with my boy.

[Video: Transfer to ICU]

The First Night

It’s 12:01am. Reilley is fast asleep, and I’m lying on the bed next to him, replaying the events of the night over and over: Marni’s scream, the sight of Reilley on the ground, and all the “what ifs” flooding my mind. The helmet. What if we didn’t go for a walk that night? What if Marni had been ahead of him and totally missed him? The thoughts raced, but His deeper peace was my anchor.

For Tash, the night was even harder. Driving home without her boy, trying to sleep when all she wanted to do was hold him. Like any mother, she just wanted to be near him. Yet even in the midst of it, she continued to pray and thank God for His goodness.

Grandma Ala

As I was settling in to rest, something caught my eye: Reilley’s shirt, the one they had to cut off him in the ED. This wasn’t just any shirt—it was his “Grandma shirt,” a family T-shirt we made in memory of Grandma Ala when she passed in 2020.

That morning of the accident, Reilley had been telling everyone at breakfast how much he missed Grandma. He’d chosen to wear that shirt for the day.

When they cut it off him in the ED, the medical team carefully cut around Grandma’s picture on the shirt—without us saying a word.

As I held the piece of the shirt in my hands, I found myself asking the Lord, Was Grandma with us tonight? Hebrews 12 speaks of the “cloud of witnesses,” and I couldn’t shake the thought.

Then, I felt it. A surge of warmth ran through my body, followed by tingles and goosebumps. In my heart, I heard these words so clearly:

“I always take care of the kids.”

They are words Grandma always said.

I don’t expect everyone to understand this part—I don't fully understand it myself—but I know what I experienced, and I took it more as a sign from God or His way of comforting me.

Tears streamed down my face, not from sadness, but from a deep comfort that I can’t quite explain. A peace settled over me, and I finally fell asleep.

[Photo: The Remains of Reilley's Grandma T-shirt]

A Miracle

Reilley was checked every hour through the night by the nurses, and I woke with them each time to check on him.

Each hour, his numbers kept improving. After the nurses left, I overheard them twice saying:

"He is such a lucky boy! This is amazing!"

This wasn’t an ordinary event—this was a miracle.

The Day After

At 6:33am the morning after the accident, Reilley started to wake up. His facial swelling had gone down dramatically, he was less drowsy, and he even said he wanted to go home.

The nurses were impressed with his progress and started planning to transfer him out of ICU to a ward—a great sign!

Though still tired and low-energy from the accident and being woken every hour through the night, Reilley was fully alert.

Tash arrived just after 8am for cuddles, while the girls stayed home with Nana Laree.

Uncle Anthony and Aunty Liga brought him McDonald’s—his favorite hotcakes and nuggets. He devoured them.

Papa showed up with more McDonald’s for lunch.

In the afternoon, Nana Laree and Grandad Richard came with Marni, who had gone shopping to buy Reilley a new bag and toys – including a special Star pillow gift from Aunty Hannah.

A video call from Nona, reminding him how strong he is.

Uncle Stacey, Aunty Ally, and his cousins also visited, lifting his spirits. He loves spending time with them.

By evening, we were transferred to the Children’s Ward.

Children’s Ward

The Children’s Ward was beautiful—bright and open with big windows and great facilities for the family.

Reilley felt the difference right away. He said, “I feel like a king with everyone giving me stuff,” referring to the hospital meals and all the treats from visitors.

That evening, we both relaxed and fell asleep watching movies on the big TV. The nurses continued their hourly checks, but this time they didn’t need to wake him.

We both slept well that night—it was much needed.

[Photo: Reilley in the Children's Ward]

Discharge Day

We both wake up well rested.

We have breakfast, play some board games in the games room. His Papa, cousins, and Auny Jess visit for lunch—with more McDonalds!

Reilley is back to himself and loving having his cousins here.

The nurses and doctors give us the all clear, and we head home at 7pm Sunday 22 December, less than 48 hours after the accident.

[Photo 1: Reilley, his cuzzies and his sisters]

[Photo 2: Reilley and his bestie/cuzzie Jojo]

Home

We arrive home, there's dinner already on the table from The Hunt Family, and our living room is now a campsite. Matresses, bean bags, pillows, blankets. Nothing but movies, relaxing, and enjoying ourselves until Christimas.

Our boy is well, and our family is together again, the way it should be.

God is good.

[Photo: Me and my boy waking up after being back home]

Some Final Words

Firstly, this experience has been a sobering reminder not to overlook the little things. And not just the helmets—it’s also things like smoke alarms, driving safely, watching your kids instead of your phone, and all the other small responsibilities we tend to push aside.

Driving 1 or 2 km/h slower could make a world of difference. A new battery in your smoke alarm could save lives. Putting the phone away could prevent distraction in times of danger. And a helmet could change everything.

It's hard enough seeing others in tragedy. But to also carry the guilt of causing it or at least being able to prevent it? That's doubly hard.

It’s the little things that lead to the big things. This has reminded us to be faithful in the small things, because they truly matter.

God’s Goodness

While we are responsible for ensuring our kids’ safety like wearing helmets, we’ve also come to a genuine place in our faith where we believe in God’s ability to redeem even our mistakes.

We’ve experienced this countless times—not just in our lives but also with our closest friends and clients, like Ryan and his passport story here.

There are many who struggle to believe God is this good. Some think you should bear the consequences of your mistakes, or that believing in God’s goodness makes you careless or lazy. I get it. “Let it be unto you according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29). You and I decide how much of His goodness we want to experience or not.

As for us, we know His goodness can do just that, and we’re living it. It’s real, and it changes everything.

How Well Do You Know His Goodness?

Not just theologically, but experientially? A wise man builds his house before the storm, not in it. When freak moments like this happen, it’s too late to try and “muster up peace and goodness.” It’s got to be a living reality beforehand—a well that’s already dug deep.

This kind of faith and peace can’t be manufactured in the moment. It’s a pursuit best cultivated when life is steady, when things are good.

This journey with God is not a game, and it’s bigger than just attending a meeting once a week. It’s about a deep, personal, day-to-day walk with Him—a relationship that shapes every part of your life, not just the moments set aside for “religious activities.”

Casual Christianity will cause casualities. Maturity breeds genuine goodness.

Kingdom Family

Find people you can walk into the deeper things of God with. We know many people, but we know few who genuinely live this. When the rubber meets the road, good preachers aren’t enough—we need mature sons and daughters who know their place in the Kingdom and stand with you from that position.

There are many who vehemently fight and debate against miracles, healing, and the supernatural. And often, that’s why they don’t see it. Again, as Jesus said, “Let it be unto you according to your faith” (Matthew 9:29). Your faith gets what it expects.

When tragedy like this happen, I’m not thinking about the last debate I won or how clever my theogloy is—I just want my boy well and home.

And we did.

I'm thankful for Kingdom family who stood with us, not from hype, but from a sincere understanding of His goodness.

Cherish Your Family

15 minutes before the accident, Tash had just crossed the $30k mark in her digital marketing journey. You can follow her journey here.

But when we heard Marni's scream and found my boy unconscious, I promise you, that $30k milestone meant NOTHING.

We spend so much time in fear, stress, striving, and rushing.

Here’s what I say: slow down. Make choices that are true to your desires. Be present in the moment. Hate your job? Just quit. Want to be with your family more? Do it.

Because when you think you might never see your loved ones again, all you care about is being with them. Not another paycheck. Not another "Like" on social media. Not another “time-and-a-half” day to save up for a holiday.

You want your family.

Live it now.

Thank You

A massive thank you to our neighbors who responded to Marni so quickly. Your immediate action made all the difference.

To the paramedics who drove us to ED—your skill, speed, and care were amazing. That girl can drive!

To the incredible nurses and doctors in ICU and the Children’s Ward: this experience opened my eyes to how much I’ve taken you all for granted. You are doing God’s work, and I had some of the most epic conversations with you during this time.

To our Kingdom Family, who showed up in a second: your love and support mean more to us than words can express. You have no idea how significant and valuable your relationships are to us.

To our families: we are so blessed to have such a tight-knit group always there for us, in every situation—good or bad. Having you to count on is an immeasurable blessing in moments like these.

To my Good Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit: we are literally nothing without You, and yet everything with You.

Jesus is life. There is no life outside of Him. He is the only way to the Father, and His relentless love will pursue you all the days of your life.

Receive His goodness.

Jesus is King.

Bless you,

Lee

PS: want to understand our postion on things like healing? Listen to my 5 Part series on my podcast here.