The Heart of a Fighter: Mark’s Second Chance at Life

By Chan Yu Qing

At age 45, life was full of adventure for Mark. An avid snorkeller, cyclist, and traveller, he embraced every moment with his family – until September 2025, when a sudden medical emergency brought everything to a halt, leaving him hospitalised for months. But even then, the same spirit carried him through the fight of his life, driven by one simple conviction: ‘I want to live’.

The Sudden Collapse

Mark and his family on their family trips.

It began with a few days of fever and flu-like symptoms, nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. But as the days passed, the symptoms did not ease. Instead, Mark grew increasingly breathless. He rushed to the hospital, where his condition quickly took a frightening turn. Doctors discovered that his heart rhythm had become dangerously unstable, and fluid had begun to accumulate in his lungs – a sign that his heart was struggling to keep up. Within hours, he found himself in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), fighting for his life.

"I couldn't remember anything before I reached the A&E," he recalled. Despite urgent treatment, his heart stopped. As a last resort, Mark was placed on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a life‑saving machine that takes over the work of the heart and lungs, to keep him alive.

The toll on Mark's body was immense. Beyond his heart, his kidneys and liver had also been affected. To give his heart the support it desperately needed, doctors performed a CentriMag-BiVAD surgery to implant a temporary artificial heart support system that helped both sides of his weakened heart continue to function.

Mark during his stay at NHCS CTICU, with his wife and three daughters by his side.

One Day at a Time

The road to recovery was long and arduous. Mark spent months in the ICU, unable to speak and confined to his bed, communicating with his family through written notes. In one of them, he wrote: "I must live for my family." A quiet but powerful reflection of his determination to survive.

“He managed to stay in the ICU for about 110 days, which is a great feat in itself,” said Dr Zameer Abdul Aziz, Consultant, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NHCS.

Throughout his stay, a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals supported him every step of the way. From his first sitting up to his first assisted stand, Mark persevered through intensive physiotherapy with the team, slowly rebuilding his respiratory and physical strength over time.

From bedbound to walking on his own: Mark's road to recovery, one milestone at a time.

 A New Chapter

Today, Mark is back to doing the things he once took for granted – with the support of an LVAD, a long-term heart pump that continues to assist his heart. “Now I can walk around, have lunch with my wife; better than staying at home,” he shared.

None of these happened by chance. It took unwavering determination on Mark’s part, and the tireless dedication of his care team. And most importantly, it was made possible by decades of clinical innovation and research that continue to push the frontiers of cardiac care.

While Mark's story gives us hope, many other heart conditions are still waiting for answers. Many complex cardiac conditions remain without a solution, and continued investment in these efforts is what makes the next breakthrough possible, and the next live saved.

Your Gift Saves Lives

This is where the NHCS Heart To Heart Fund plays a vital role. By supporting research, funding advanced treatments, and ensuring that patients have access to the care they need, your gift helps make stories like Mark's possible and brings us closer to the next breakthrough that could save even more lives.

You can be a part of this mission. Place a bid at the NHCS Heart To Heart Gala 2026 Online Auction, open until 16 October 2026, and help NHCS shape the future of cardiac care. Every contribution counts. Click here.

*Eligible donations will enjoy a 250% tax deduction. For auction items, the bid amount above the estimated value is entitled to a 250% tax deduction.