Fundraiser’s all set for skydive

Lulu died in June 2011, aged 37, after suffering a heart attack, and was cared for in the Integrated Critical Care Unit (ICCU).

“The staff were absolutely brilliant there,” he said.

“They cared for her for four days and she sadly never woke up in that time; she was on a ventilator. She’d had no history of heart problems, so her passing was a massive shock. But she donated her organs – apart from her eyes as she joked she wanted to see where she was going – and we know that others have been able to have better lives because of her.”

Mark, 54, a forklift driver, said he wanted to say thank you to ICCU where he was also a patient following a car crash in 2004 and hopes money raised will help benefit others in the unit.

“It was a serious accident that left me with multiple injuries, and I had to have microsurgery on my ruptured diaphragm. Again, the staff were fantastic. I owe them my life.”

Mark, who now lives in Telford, will do his skydive on Friday 24 April at Hibaldstow in Lincolnshire and says he is more excited than nervous.

“I did one some years ago just for the thrill of it and I loved it. I wasn’t nervous at all and don’t feel nervous for this one either which is for a good cause. It will be the second time I’ve been on a plane but never gone anywhere!

“Me and Lulu had been married 13 years and six months when she died and she was lovely. She really calmed me down and was my everything. We had two sons and a daughter together and I was so happy with her. I miss her all the time and want to say thank you to ICCU for looking after her and me. The staff are amazing to patients and their families.”

To sponsor Mark’s efforts please visit his Just Giving page

https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-stoneley-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager for Your RWTC, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s charity, said:

“Best of luck to Mark – and rather him than me!

“But in all seriousness, we really appreciate him supporting our ICCU teams following the care he and Lulu received. Our colleagues will ensure that any money raised benefits the patients and families they support and thank you Mark for being so thoughtful.”