Byline: By Craig McDonald
DEVOTED parents Karen and Stephen McLeod gave up their home and their jobs to help their teenage son fight cancer.
And now the couple believe brave Mark Ballantyne's two-and-a-half-year struggle and their sacrifices could finally be rewarded.
Mark, 18, who has had two bone marrow transplants, could soon be moved from Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.
It would be the first step to him returning home to Golspie, Sutherland, and an end to the long-distance nightmare which has seen the family split up.
Karen, 40, and Stephen, 33, who is Mark's stepdad, moved to Glasgow with younger daughter Mea, three, to be closer to him, staying in accommodation provided by cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
Mark's brother Martin, 21, and sister Michaela, 16, remained in Golspie because of work and school commitments.
But each week - and sometimes twice a week - Karen and Stephen make the 500-mile round trip home to see their other children.
It all adds up to more than 65,000 miles travelled and an estimated pounds 8000 spent on petrol.
The couple also had to give up their jobs and now have a council house in Golspie after being forced to sell their four-bedroom family home.
Yesterday, Karen, who worked as a human resources manager for a store chain, said: 'Mark's had a terrible time and we needed to be near him.
'We've given up everything but didn't think twice about it.
'It's been one battle after another for Mark. We just hope and pray things will work out okay for him.'
Mark was diagnosed with the bone marrow cancer myelodysplasia at just 15.
And Karen says all the upheaval will be worth it if her son can battle back to full health.
She said: 'We were devastated when first told Mark was ill. We thought he would only be in Yorkhill for six to nine months.
'The travelling and everything has been a massive financial burden. In the end, we had to give up our jobs and sell the house.
'We couldn't keep up the mortgage payments because we needed money to be with Mark.'
She added: 'We've asked for him to be transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
'We can't afford to stay here in Glasgow and it's just too far for the rest of the family to come visiting.
'Once we get him home, we hope it will be a lot better. It would mean anyone could visit him.
'I am hoping he'll be moved this summer as he is a lot better than he was. But there are still major problems to overcome.'
During the last two-and-a-half years, Mark has undergone a number of painful treatments. As well as his transplants, he has had eight doses of intensive chemotherapy.
Karen said: 'He's a fighter, you have to be. After the first transplant didn't work, he had to be very brave to have a second one.
'The chemo has been very rough on Mark and his heart and lungs are not as strong as they could be.
'He'll just have to tailor his lifestyle accordingly. There's no alternative to the chemotherapy unfortunately.'
Mark has needed a blood transfusion every two days to keep him alive and blood platelets each day to stop him bleeding to death.
Now, though, he is producing his own platelets and no longer needs transfusions, giving the family hope.
The last time Mark was back home in Golspie was briefly in October last year to celebrate sister Michaela's 16th birthday.
In February, he spent three days in Raigmore Hospital to be closer to his family.
Doctors say once he puts weight on and builds his strength up, they will consider a permanent transfer.
Karen said: 'He's now producing his own blood and platelets, which is the main thing after a bone marrow transplant.
'We're hoping he might be moved to Inverness in six weeks.'
Karen says the move would be the first step to full recovery for her son.
She said: 'He's a very intelligent boy but has missed out on such a vital part of his schooling. He just wants to get home and spend six months getting back to fitness.
'It's then his aim to look at college and he fancies civil engineering.'
In the meantime, Mark has a more immediate goal he hopes to realise.
Karen said: 'Although Mark's into dance music, he's a huge fan of the country and western star Kenny Rogers. We hear he's coming to Glasgow in October and we'd love to get Mark along to that.
'We don't have a ticket but we're working on it. That, and the move nearer home, are what's keeping him going.'
CAPTION(S):
PRAYERS: Mum Karen' BRAVE: Mark with his little sister Mea' PAUL CHAPPELLS
