'It was so sudden' — family tribute to Dundee man Mark McCleary
A Dundee man has died from cancer only three months after he was diagnosed.
- Published in the Courier : 24.08.11
- Published online : 24.08.11 @ 11.07am
Sawmill worker Mark McCleary, who was 37 and from Fintry, was told he was suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Despite three bouts of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the disease quickly spread.
His mother June (56), an auxiliary nurse, said she "couldn't believe" her eldest son had died — but was grateful he was no longer in pain.
She said: "I don't think the hospital knew it was coming, it was so sudden. The nurses who were with him said he went away peacefully and quickly but you just can't believe it's happened."
Mark had been saving for two years to go backpacking in Canada and hs diagnosis came just the week before he was due to set off.
Last week Mark took a turn for the worse and was taken to Ninewells Hospital's high dependency unit. He died the next day, just minutes after June had left his bedside.
She recalled: "He said: 'I'll see you in the morning, mum'."
Mark went to Longhaugh Primary School and Kirkton High School before taking a job at the Polney Sawmill in Dunkeld.
He treasured his 1200cc Suzuki Bandit motorbike and often took it on long drives around Fife and Perthshire to see friends.
He is survived by his parents June and Duncan (59) and siblings Jillian (39), Craig (34) and Kevin (29).
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