Mark's Story

In August 2003, my son went to his Nana's house and told her he wasn't well. She took him to the doctors and he referred him to the hospital, where he was first diagnosed with testicular cancer. The next day he was taken to Christie Hospital in Manchester, where he was given extensive chemotherapy.

Mark told me he found a lump 12 months previous, but he never told anyone or seek medical advice.

Over the months, he had scans, x-rays, blood tests, and all sorts of other tests.

A few months went by having chemo, and he finally had the operation to remove his testicles. They found the cancer had spread to the lymph glands, and up to the lungs, inside and at the back.

Weeks later, the doctor told us the cancer had stemmed off and had spread around one of his kidneys and the aorta ventricle (main vein leading to the heart), which is very rare, because the cancer usually up the trunk of the body and not to any major organs, except the lungs.

On the 23rd December 2004, the surgeon at Christie Hospital, told us there was nothing else they could do. The surgery to remove the cancer around the kidney and main vein would kill him on the operating table. There was no point in giving him anymore chemotherapy, as the treatment did not touch him. Mark did not cry, but his eyes were filled up. I was absolutely devastated, how I drove home, I`ll never know.

Mark never went for anymore appointments as there was nothing else they could do for him, he just wanted to live as much a normal life as possible. He did live his life to the full, going out with all of his friends. He lived for his friends.

In June 2006, he went to look really ill. He went out for his last night with his friends, which I told him he wasn't well enough, but he went anyway. A few days later he became quite ill. He was very weak and in very bad pain. He needed help to walk to the toilet and I would get him drinks and something to eat now and again, but he just went off his food.

On the 19th June, Mark wanted to go to hospital because of how much pain he was in, so I phoned for an ambulance because he was too weak for me to take him. He told the doctor that he had a tumour, but it wasn't cancerous and it was too awkward to have it removed. I was totally lost for words, when he told the doctor that. The size of the tumour was as big as a fully grown baby, he looked about 12 months pregnant! About an hour later the doctor came to see me, and told me he was very ill and if he goes they were not going to attempt to resuscitate him. I hysterically broke down. My mum and I stayed at his bedside all day, but he didn't want us to stay overnight. All his friends came to see him and stayed all day. I went back early next morning, he never had a good night. My mum and I stayed all day with him, but he only wanted to see his family and not any of his friends, I don't think Mark wanted them to see how bad he was. He told all of them the same as what he told the doctor, that it was a tumour but it wasn't cancerous.

All the family went home late that evening, except my mum and I, also his friend Nathan, slept in the dayroom. Around 5-10am, Mark was sick and sweating quite a lot, so I sponged down his face. He looked up at me and said Thank-you. The nurses came in to make him comfortable, so I went to get some fresh air. On the way back, the nurse and Nathan met me in the corridor to tell me Mark had gone. I cried and screamed back to the ward. I hugged and kissed him and couldn't let him go. I wanted to be there for him when he went, but I don't think he wanted me there, but I am so glad my mum was with him and he never died alone.

The day of Mark's funeral was devastating. I knew Mark was popular, but I never imagined how popular he was. There must have been about 80-90 lads there.

I miss him so much that I would do anything to have him back. I would give up my life for him. Even though I have a lot of support from my family, friends and my best friend, I feel so alone. Mark's friends have been very supportive, they have been fantastic. You couldn't wish for a great bunch of lads.

I started this charity after seeing so many of Mark's friends at the funeral. I don't want to see any of them or there families to go through the same thing Mark and I went through, and also all those young lads at Christie Hospital and across the country. If there wasn't a stigma about being embarrassed, Mark might still be here today.

Mark is always in my thoughts and in my heart

He will never be forgotten.