By Dionne Meehan
EIGHTEEN years ago Mark McCollum’s life changed in a way he could have never imagined.
An avid swimmer, cyclist and diver, the Raphoe man was told he had only weeks to live if he didn’t undergo an urgent quadruple bypass.
Marking 18 years since his operation last week, he urged people to listen to their body, cherish the people they love and embrace the moments that make life worth living.
“I was swimming with the Sheephaven Sub Aqua Club, enjoying what seemed like an ordinary day, when I felt it—a strange, quiet unease,” Mark told the Donegal News.
“No pain, no drama, just an inexplicable sense that something was off.
“I returned to shore, called NowDoc, and found myself in the ED, where a cardiologist happened to be on duty.
“I expected to hear it was something minor—a virus, maybe a touch of fatigue.
“Instead, I was told news that would change my life.”
Despite being in his early 40s, living healthily and never smoking, Mark had four completely blocked arteries.
“A cardiologist on duty explained that without urgent surgery, I had only weeks to live,” he said.
“I was devastated.
“First of all I thought, there must be a mistake, it can’t be.
“I was a swimmer, a cyclist, a diver, always really fit and I wasn’t overweight.
“I was always watching my diet.
“I never smoked.
“I was always trying to do the right thing.
“But still, I was told ‘if you don’t get this you are going to die’.”
“Why me?” Mark asked.
“I tried to do things right.”
All of a sudden, Mark went from thinking he was perfectly fine and healthy, to not being able to walk from one side of the room to the other.
“A quadruple bypass saved my life, but it marked the beginning of a much longer journey,” he said.
“Waking up after the surgery was tough and it took a long time to recover.
“I was only in the hospital for a week, but the recovery feels like you’re made out of glass.
“You are cut from your thigh to your ankle, from your wrist to your elbow and your chest is completely busted.
“You are completely fragile and you feel really vulnerable.
“It took a long time to get back to whatever normal was.”
But one constant throughout Mark’s journey was his connection with the sea.
“The sea has been a constant—a reminder of resilience, change, and life’s ebb and flow,” he said.
“I’ve rediscovered my connection to the sea, first with the Gartan Open Water Swimmers, then as a swim guide in Greece with Strel Swimming Adventures.
“Now, I’ve embraced skin and ice swimming, finding joy in encouraging others to experience the freedom and healing power of open water.
“There was almost this fear at the start because you’re like the broken doll, but then you realise, okay, I can do it.
“You are wary of trying to do what you did before, but eventually, everything became a new normal.”
Although some days survival felt like a struggle for Mark, even in the darkest times, he learned to keep moving forward.
“One step, one breath, one stroke at a time and progress no matter how small or slow is still progress,” he said.
“Eighteen years have brought unimaginable challenges, changes and incredible growth.
“I’m still here, living, learning and endeavouring to find beauty even in life’s ongoing chaos.
“To anyone reading this, listen to your body, cherish the people you love and embrace the moments that make life worth living.
“Keep checking your heart, keep holding on to hope and always, keep swimming.
“Life is for living – one moment at a time.”
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