Byline: By Craig McDonald
DEVOTED parents Karen and Stephen McLeod gave up their home and jobs to help their teenage son fight cancer.
Now they 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 going home to Golspie, Sutherland, and an end to the long-distance nightmare which has split the family.
Karen, 40, and Stephen, 33, who is Mark's stepdad, moved to Glasgow with younger daughter Mea, three, to be closer to him.
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 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.'
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.'
She added: 'We've asked for him to be transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
'We can't afford to stay in Glasgow - it's too far for the rest of the family to come visiting.
'Once we get him home, we hope it will be a lot better.
'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.'
As well as his transplants, Mark has had eight doses of intensive chemotherapy.
Karen said: 'He's a real fighter - you have to be.'
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.
And doctors say once he puts weight on and builds his strength up, they will consider the transfer to Raigmore.
Karen said: 'We're hoping he might be moved to Inverness in six weeks.'
She added: 'He's a very intelligent boy but has missed out on vital 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 civil engineering.'
CAPTION(S):
BRAVE: Mark's little sister Mea gives him a kiss' FAMILY SUPPORT: Mark with his mum Karen and little sister Mea PAUL CHAPPELLS
