31/01/2026
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Mark’s mum Dawn is rightly proud of her son knowing that Mark saved the lives of 5 individuals through his gifts of his heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and pancreas, as well as donating his bone and tendons, last year.
“One day last Summer Mark suffered two cardiac arrests brought on by a seizure. The paramedics fought for half an hour on each arrest, and both times managed to bring him back.
Mark was then taken to the critical care unit at our local Hospital, where he was sedated and ventilated.
Over the following days this amazing team conducted tests, took bloods, and all with the greatest respect.
Unfortunately Mark was not responding to tests and a second scan was done.
Devastatingly the scan showed Mark had catastrophic brain damage, due to the lack of oxygen.
A decision was made to stop ventilation, however, from something so tragic came something so amazing.
Mark was on the organ donor register and permission was asked from the organ donation team to use Mark’s organs. Of course we said yes.
So, ventilation continued, and the organ donation team began the search for recipients with everything being explained to us, as the search began.
Five days after Mark’s seizure he gained his "superhero wings".
Alan, my husband, and Mark’s stepdad from the age of 11, and myself, were asked if we wanted to walk behind or in front of Mark’s bed as he was taken to the anaesthesia room.
The organ donation team explained everything to us, and advised once Mark had passed we would only have a short time to say goodbye, as time was critical.
As we walked behind Mark’s bed, off the unit and onto the corridor, Mark had a guard of honour.
This broke our hearts, but made us so, so proud knowing Mark’s new journey was as a superhero helping others.
At 10:39, Mark passed away quickly and peacefully.
We thanked the full team for their dignity and respect, and began to let family members know.
When Mark’s funeral took place it was standing room only with just under 300 people attending his funeral.
Mark had so many friends. He loved his rock music, Avenged Sevenfold being his favourite band.
He loved to draw from a very young age and as he grew older he became interested in Japanese Anime and Manga art.His drawings were just off the scale.
Mark had time for everyone, and was a good listener.He loved to socialise with his friends.
Mark has left a big hole and a fundraiser has been set up in honour of Mark.When Alan and I spoke to the critical care team, they told us they had plans to build a memorial garden for patients and relatives.This gave us the green light to set up a just giving page and start to raise money for the garden.
Mark saved the lives of three gentlemen and two ladies through his gifts of his heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and pancreas, as well as donating his bone and tendons.”
Please about your decisions with your loved ones, say and register your decision at NHS Organ Donation
