£80,000 to help Mark walk again Mum was in tears as he tried the robotic suit
A Motherwell teenager is aiming to raise £80,000 for a “miraculous” robotic suit that will help him to walk for the first time in six years.
Mark Sweeney was only two years old when he spent 18 months in hospital after undergoing the first of 125 gruelling operations throughout his young life on his brain and spine.
Then, at the age of 12, an operation to remove a cyst from his spine left him paralysed.
“I had difficulty coming to terms with it all emotionally. I was stuck in hospital for a long period of time, having to heal and having to do this every time I needed surgery,” remembers Mark (18).
“It was so stressful because of all the pain that comes with it and when I was at school my attendance was awful.”
Then, six months ago, Mark’s mum, Margaret, stumbled across information online about American company Rewalk, whose state-ofthe-art technology has created a bionic suit that provides powered hip and knee motion and enables people with spinal cord injuries to
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stand upright, walk, turn, and climb up and down stairs.
When wheelchair user Mark discovered that the US manufacturer had a Birmingham facility, he and Margaret and dad Andrew Bell made an appointment for him to test the suit.
“My mum had explained to them my condition and disability and they said by the sounds of it I was a candidate, but wouldn’t know for sure until they saw me,” explained former Brannock High pupil Mark.
Although Rewalk technicians warned the family that the hi-tech device is not suitable for all users and some people are unable to stand or walk with it in the first three or four attempts, Mark got to his feet instantly.
“I got up in one go and took quite a few steps. My mum was in tears. She never thought she would see me walk again. I was very emotional and felt a bit nauseous and dizzy because I was no longer used to being at that height and upright.”
Now, Mark and mum Margaret, of Montalto Avenue, Jerviston, have launched a crowd funding campaign to buy him a life-changing Rewalk suit that will help him to walk again.
The prospect has given New Lanarkshire College student Mark a positive outlook on life and made him even more determined to realise his dream of becoming an actor.
He recently took part in an acting workshop at the BBC studios in London as part of the corporation’s initiative to open the door to opportunities for aspiring actors and presenters who have a disability.
“It was a very interesting experience,” said Mark, who dreams of starring in River City.“i met producers and casting directors who could help me get a job when I finish my IT course.”
His Gofundme campaign has raised over £7000. And although he accepts there is a long way to go to reach its £80,000 target, Mark is confident his determination to get back on his feet in a Rewalk suit will soon become a reality.
“I’d plead with anyone reading this to share my Gofundme page so that others might see it. If anybody could make a small contribution, that would be amazing.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/ineed-new-legs