After not listening to from him for days his spouse requested police to do a welfare verify. After they reached the home they realised Mark had been on the ground for the very best a part of per week
A person from west Wales was discovered collapsed on his rest room ground by police who later realised he’d been there for 4 days. Mark Causey, 61, from Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire, had dropped his spouse Rosalind off at her mum’s residence in Margam for just a few days and he returned residence alone the place he had deliberate to have a standard week doing a little DIY.
However Rosalind mentioned she had sensed one thing was fallacious when Mark had did not contact her. Utilizing the webcam they’d had arrange in the home in Kilgetty through her telephone, Rosalind might see on the recordings how her husband had been “dishevelled and staggering” round the home and after that she could not see him on the recordings in any respect.
She recalled: “Mark had pushed me to my mum’s residence in Margam village as her well being was declining and he returned residence to do some DIY. I turned very fearful on the Friday, I couldn’t attain him.
“I checked our webcam and noticed the earlier Monday’s footage captured him trying dishevelled and staggering. Then there was no extra motion, wherever at residence, one thing was fallacious.
“I referred to as the police to do a welfare verify. After they broke in they discovered Mark collapsed on the lavatory ground. He’d been there for 4 days.”
When paramedics arrived Mark was semi-conscious and severely dehydrated. He was rushed to Withybush Basic Hospital the place a CT scan revealed lesions on his mind.
Rosalind mentioned: “As a nurse I knew instantly that wasn’t good. After they mentioned ‘lesions’ my coronary heart sank. I believed it could possibly be a stroke or most cancers.”
Mark additionally skilled kidney failure as a consequence of dehydration. He was given high-dose steroids to scale back mind irritation and slowly regained some mobility.
Remarkably issues had been at one level trying up for Mark regardless of what he’d been via. After three weeks in hospital he was discharged residence.
However days later he was requested to attend an outpatient appointment at Singleton Hospital in Swansea the place the neurological crew delivered the heartbreaking information. He was identified with glioblastoma, probably the most aggressive type of mind most cancers.
Rosalind shared: “The marketing consultant then instructed us that surgical procedure or a biopsy wasn’t doable as a result of the tumour had unfold with spider-like tendrils all through his mind. They mentioned that Mark solely had eight to 12 weeks to reside.
“We had been numb. Mark saved saying they needed to be fallacious, he was decided to battle. Mark needed greater than something to be nicely sufficient to experience the bike he spent months restoring.”
Mark was prescribed chemotherapy, although with no biopsy it was unsure if the tumour would reply. Regardless of his dedication and temporary enchancment, a follow-up MRI revealed the tumour had doubled in dimension.
“We had been devastated,” mentioned Rosalind. “He’d been strolling once more, first making it from the home to the backyard gate, then he walked additional afield to attend a motorbike night time at our native pub. However the tumour was so aggressive.
“We appeared into personal hyperthermic remedy in London, which makes use of warmth to kill most cancers cells, however it was too late. His most cancers was too intensive and too fast-growing.”
Mark, a eager runner and motorcycle fanatic, had accomplished a number of marathons and spent numerous hours restoring bikes in his storage. Regardless of his deteriorating well being, he continued to battle.
Rosalind mentioned: “Mark didn’t wish to speak about dying. Watching him fade was heartbreaking. Generally I’d go into the backyard to water my tomatoes so he wouldn’t see me cry. He all the time requested for the primary ripe one.”
Mark handed away in September 2024 surrounded by his family members at residence. His funeral mirrored his ardour for bikes, along with his coffin transported on a motorbike hearse, adopted by over 100 bikers from throughout the neighborhood.
In his reminiscence Rosalind is now teaming up with Mind Tumour Analysis to tackle their 99 miles in November problem, aiming to lift essential funds for locating a remedy for mind tumours.
Mind tumours are the main reason for demise in youngsters and adults beneath 40, and extra males beneath 75 than prostate most cancers, but just one per cent of nationwide most cancers analysis funding is allotted to this illness.
This November Mind Tumour Analysis is encouraging individuals to participate within the 99 miles in November problem, a health fundraising occasion to assist analysis and enhance outcomes for sufferers like Mark. Individuals can stroll, run, cycle, swim, or clock up miles within the fitness center, at their very own tempo, in their very own approach.
“I’m strolling 99 miles this November for Mark and for everybody affected by this merciless illness,” Rosalind added. “Analysis is the one approach we’ll cease others from going via what we did. I’ve already raised over £300, and I’ll be strolling each step for him. “
Mind Tumour Analysis supplies long-term funding to devoted Mind Tumour Analysis centres of excellence at key educational establishments.
Letty Greenfield, neighborhood improvement supervisor at Mind Tumour Analysis, mentioned: “Mark’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of how brutal mind tumours could be. Rosalind’s power and braveness in sharing their expertise is actually inspiring, and each mile she walks helps us transfer nearer to discovering a remedy. We hope his story conjures up others to tackle the problem.”
