About Mark and his SCH network journey

'Marky' Mark Darra Smith was born at 35 weeks' gestation (at Royal North Shore hospital) on 22 April 2004. His mum, Heather was undergoing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma while pregnant with Mark and after he was born she continued treatment.
Marks journey has been short but filled with more than a lifetime of amazing achievements, adventures, and an abundance of love.
Just before his 9th birthday, Mark was diagnosed with metastasized medulloblastoma and low-grade glioma. His initial treatment lasted for nearly a year, most of that time was spent in the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Marks treatments were intensive.
The amazing staff jumped straight into action when Mark was diagnosed, and Mark underwent 15-hour emergency surgery on his brain and spine, only 8 hours after his initial diagnosis. Throughout his treatment, and care, especially the Emergency Department, the Commercial Travellers (C.T) Ward, the ICU, and later, the Variety Ward - to name but a few, Mark and his family were steered through the chaos. Mark had stem cell therapy, 30 lots of full-strength, full brain and spine radiotherapy sessions and many other procedures such as MRI's under tens of general anaesthetics, four rounds of chemotherapy, which sent Mark to ICU on many occasions. Marks radiotherapy burnt his stomach until he was unable to digest anything and had to be kept alive on TPN and Lipids (through an IV) for several months.
Due to the severity of the surgery and treatments, Mark had to re-learn everything from sitting up and walking, amongst other basic functions.

Keeping Mark going was a team effort including hundreds of Nurses, Doctors and OT's, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Educators, Music therapists, the many Captains Starlight and the Startlight Foundation, and so many more..
The cancer damaged Mark's eyesight and he became legally blind. The chemotherapy treatment damaged his hearing, and he required hearing aides. The cancer ravaged Marks spine and his pituitary function. It took Mark two years to return to school full time, yet he did it.
Mark threw himself into life with his passion for all forms of football. His deep love of the Newcastle Knights and the Sydney Swans lifted Mark's life in so many ways it's hard to put into words. Although Mark was a Sydneysider, through sharing his Mum's passions, he adopted the Newcastle Knights as his team. 
Mark's life after his initial diagnoses was a whirlwind of activity and responsibility for his family. Mark was constantly required to manage his complex health needs including adrenal insufficiency, growth hormone treatments, severe asthma, and spinal degeneration and pain amongst so many more challenges and triumphs. His Head Doctor, Professor Stewart Kelly, and his team were the engine driving the ongoing health care machine of SCH Network. Mark's calendar was never empty. His life filled with intervention, support people, friends, family, and football. The unwavering love from Mark's Mum, Heather, Sister, Penelope and Grandfather, Peter "G.D" carried Mark through his relentless battles. The love and support of school and church communities (St Martin de Porres, Davidson, and Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood) remained throughout his youth. Mark shared his sister's passion for Harry Potter, and in the last 12 months was thrilled to convert his sister into a fellow Star Wars fan.
In August 2022, cancer was again found throughout Mark's brain and spine, and this time treatment could only be palliative. Mark bravely faced this palliative treatment so he could spend his last month's doing things he loved with and for the people he loved. Mark hesitated to let people know he had limited time with them, because he didn't want to hurt them. That was how Mark was; a beautiful, loving and quirky soul who always thought of others. 
There will never be enough words or time to elaborate on how wonderful Mark was, and how much he will always mean to the many thousands of people he has touched in one way or another throughout his short life. 

Bear Cottage Children's Hospice at Manly was a final home and sanctuary for Mark, Heather and Penelope. All the staff and volunteers welcoming G.D for sleepovers, and many other loved ones as part of the Bear Cottage family. While in palliative care at Bear Cottage, Mark was proudly able to officially join the volunteer team helping with their Christmas fund raising and he was enjoying so many wonderful experiences even up until the day he passed there on Saturday, 26th November 2022. 

Vale 'Marky' Mark Darra Smith.

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