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Five weeks after his birth, Mark Dobson was diagnosed with kidney problems that would be ongoing throughout his life. But having turned 25 a matter of weeks ago, his mother Jo-Anne gave him the best birthday gift.
“I turned 25 eight days after my transplant, so my mum gave me the best possible present,” says Mark.
“He couldn’t ask for anything else because he already got a kidney from me,” laughs Jo-Anne.
Jo-Anne was an Ulster Unionist MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for the Upper Bann constituency from 2011 to 2017 and is well-known in farming circles having sat on Stormont’s agriculture committee. Her husband, John, is a beef farmer in Waringstown, Co Armagh and was a participant in the former NI Suckler Beef Programme, now called the BETTER Farm Beef Challenge NI.
On 20 March, Jo-Anne and Mark went through surgery at Belfast City Hospital that would see Jo-Anne donating a kidney to ensure her son’s survival.
“My mum went to theatre at 8.30am. During the surgery the transplant co-ordinator was coming up and down giving us updates. Afterwards the surgeon told us it went well, and he said to me, ‘I’m going down to get prepped here, see you soon’,” explains Mark.
“I went to theatre at half 12, my dad came as far as the doors and the nurse wheeled me in. After that, all I remember is waking up on Wednesday morning.”
When the surgery was complete, Jo-Anne could wait no longer to see her son.
“Hours after the nurse brought me to see Mark. I remember leaning down telling him, ‘We did it Mark, we did it’. He doesn’t remember me coming in but I had to see that he had been safely though the surgery,” she recalls.
Like so many mothers, Jo-Anne would do anything for her child, and despite what lay ahead of her, she had no personal concerns.
“Not for a second did I think that I am facing major surgery because I gave birth to him and this was a chance of saving his life. It was a surreal feeling and the emotion that goes through your mind when you find out you are a match and that the surgery can go ahead. Even on the day of the operation there are moments that I shared with Mark that I will never forget.”
Failed Kidney
Prior to the transplant in March, Mark’s journey was one with ups and downs.
“We always knew the day would come from when he was five weeks old and he was put on these long-term antibiotics. Initially he was reviewed every few weeks but he also went to a yearly review. The consultant in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Children was a wonderful lady and very frank, which is how you want it. She said to us: ‘It is time to start making memories’. I knew what that meant,” says Jo-Anne.
“So we did all these holidays knowing what Mark was facing and what we were facing as a family, and hoping for Mark’s survival with a transplant. The alternative wasn’t worth thinking about.
“Mark never complained and had a positive attitude throughout. We are all optimistic, I have always had a strong faith and I believe that God wouldn’t send you anything you couldn’t cope with. I believe in our journey with organ donation, I think Mark has been a brilliant ambassador for organ donation and that he was meant to do that.”
Mark was 15 when he went through his first transplant, but it wasn’t the most successful and the kidney had to be removed.
“In January last year my consultant in Daisy Hill said that they were going to start some tests because the kidney function was getting lower and lower,” explains Mark.
“I went through numerous tests and we were brought for a biopsy at the city hospital. On 11 July the doctor sent me a text asking: ‘When can you talk?’ I thought ‘No, no’ and remember ringing my mum.”
“I was in the supermarket, dropped my shopping and rushed back home,” continues Jo-Anne.
Mark was told that his kidney was failing and it would have to be removed. Afterwards he was put on dialysis.
“He wasn’t on dialysis previously and it’s shocking to see your son hooked up to the machine and to know that that is what is keeping him alive,” says Jo-Anne.
When his first kidney failed, Jo-Anne stepped in and became a live donor, but they are forever thankful for the family who gave Mark his life back.
“I was being tested to see if I was a match in 2008 when we got the call to say that a donor had been found. The doctor said I was money in the bank for him because in all likelihood he was only 15 and would need two, possibly three transplants in his life time. So she told Mark: ‘You better keep in with your mum because you might need her in the future!’,” laughs Jo-Anne. “We are so thankful for the family who gave Mark that chance and made that decision that allowed him to have nine and a half years of life when he was able to farm and help his dad. He could take the cows out over the field and do the things that most teenagers expect to do.
“Even though the transplant ended, we had over nine years of having Mark back and didn’t have to watch him deteriorate.”
Organ Donation
Due to personal experience, Jo-Anne and Mark understand how important it is for every individual to voice their wishes in relation to organ donation.
“Please discuss it with your loved ones because none of us know when we will be in that situation so make your wishes known,” says Jo-Anne.
“Over the years Mark and I have come to know so many donor families of people who have given that ultimate gift, and they have told us that they have gained comfort knowing that their loved one was able to save three, four, or five lives.
“I think it is powerful to know that out of the ultimate tragedy some good can come and can transform lives. Everyone has the power to be a lifesaver, whether it is when they pass on or as a live donor, and there is nothing more powerful than helping another person to live.”
Jo-Anne and Mark are lifelong campaigners of organ donation and are keen to continue raising the profile.
“Organ donation is in the spotlight more than ever before and that needs to continue and improve through schools, education programs and through what Mark and I are doing by sharing our story. I can walk the walk now because I have followed in the footsteps of those who have given an organ so I can talk with more authority because I know what it is like, I have been there,” explains Jo-Anne.
In February, Jo-Anne was appointed as Northern Ireland Ambassador for Kidney Care UK, which is the UK’s biggest kidney charity.
“Promoting the work that Kidney Care does for patients is a passion of mine and a life’s work,” she says.
“I will be telling our story and how you can get involved. I will end my presentation saying go home tonight and have that conversation with your family and tell them your wishes, if there is one thing that you take away tonight after our story, you too can be a lifesaver.”
Belfast Telegraph
Mark also does his own work shedding light on their journey as he writes a weekly column for the Belfast Telegraph, putting a face to the kidney transplant tale.
“Every Monday when I was hooked up to the dialysis machine I started writing my column. The patients used to always wind me up asking: ‘Are you writing that column again, are you going to mention me in it?’,” he says.
Jo-Anne and Mark want to use their story to continue to inspire.
“Every time we are in the city hospital, there are more cards from strangers who have read Mark’s column or follow us on Twitter and our story, and so many people have come up to me and asked: ‘Are you Mark Dobson’s mummy?’
“We want to inspire other people, and anyone who is considering becoming a donor, we want to eliminate that fear or concern and let them see that we did it, and if we can do it anyone can.
“We wish to let others know about the life-saving power of organ donation. Mark is unique because he has experienced getting a kidney from a deceased donor and a live donor so we can speak with authority in both situations.”
With a BBC documentary in the making, Jo-Anne and Mark are availing of every opportunity in the hope that it will help others.
“If any of your readers want to get in touch through Facebook or Twitter, we would be happy to meet and speak to them and let them know that they are not alone because I was glad of a friendly face and to hear someone say: ‘It’s not as scary as you think.’” CL
If you would like to get in touch
with Jo-Anne and Mark, visit
their social media sites.
Jo-Anne: facebook.com/joanne.dobson.5
Mark: facebook.com/mark.dobson.184
Jo-Anne: twitter.com/joanne_dobson
Mark: twitter.com/DialysisDobson
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