THE FAMILY of a Tameside man whose organs have gifted life to five strangers hopes to help towards a memorial garden for patents and families at the area’s critical care unit.
Mark Thorley passed away at the age of 34 after being admitted to the Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust facility at the borough’s hospital on August 28 following multiple cardiac arrests caused by a seizure.
Paramedics worked tirelessly to resuscitate him before he was transferred to hospital, where specialist teams continued his care.
Despite every effort and extensive testing, he did not regain consciousness, passing away on September 2.
His family say that doctors delivered the news that Mark sadly would not recover with care and respect, giving them the time and space they needed to understand what was happening.
As he was taken to the operating theatre, staff and other families formed a ‘guard of honour’ in recognition of his final act of generosity.
By donating his organs, Mark saved five lives. A man in his 40s received one of his kidneys and his pancreas after three years on the waiting list and a man in his 20s received the other kidney after more than four years waiting.
Mark’s liver was donated to a man in his 30s who urgently needed a transplant after having been on the list for more than a year.
A woman in her 50s, after just five days on the waiting list, received a precious and rare heart transplant, and another woman in her 50s received a double lung transplant thanks to Mark’s donation.
In addition, Mark was able to donate bone and tendons, providing hope and recovery for even more people.
For Mark’s mum, Dawn Letham, and stepdad, Alan, arriving at the critical care unit was overwhelming, but they were met with kindness, clarity and compassion from staff who took the time to explain what was happening and support them through every step.
“Walking onto that unit, I can imagine we looked like rabbits in headlights. But the staff were incredible,” she recalled.
“They explained everything, answered every question and never made us feel like we were alone.
“One thing I will never forget is that even though Mark was on a ventilator and unresponsive, staff spoke to him whenever they did tests or took blood. As a mother, that meant the absolute world.”
Since Mark’s death, his family, friends and colleagues have come together to raise funds for the critical care unit, including support towards a proposed memorial garden for patients and families.
Mark’s friends raised £1,050 at a live music fundraising event held in his memory and from donations at his funeral.
Dawn’s workplace, Prestbury Travel, raised more than £5,000 in a single day through a holiday auction, raffle and donations.
Emily Whelan, charity manager at Tameside and Glossop NHS Charity, said, “Mark’s story has touched all of us deeply.
“The care he received, the dignity shown to his family and the legacy he has left behind are incredibly moving.
“Dawn’s strength and determination to honour Mark and continue his legacy is remarkable, and through her kindness and openness, Mark continues to bring hope to others.”
Donations to support the memorial garden can be made via JustGiving at: https://justgiving.com/page/memorialgarden-mark.
Mark’s family hope that by sharing his story, more people will consider organ donation and have open conversations with their loved ones about their wishes.
Anyone wishing to join the UK Organ Donor Register can find more information at: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk.