A Glasgow man, Mark Namegni, tragically lost his life just two months after experiencing pain in his side, leaving his family in profound grief. Mark had initially raised concerns about the discomfort to his wife, Nathalie, following a football game with friends on August 8. Despite attempting to go to work the next day, his condition worsened, leading him to seek medical attention.

After undergoing an X-ray and having fluid drained from the affected area, Mark’s pain persisted. Heartbreakingly, on August 10, he received the devastating news that he had lung cancer.

Mark spent nearly a month in the hospital receiving treatment, but he chose to keep his diagnosis a secret from his loved ones. It wasn’t until shortly before his passing that his wife discovered the truth about his battle with the deadly disease.

Nathalie recounted the sequence of events, saying, “Mark felt some pain in his side when he went to play football with his friends. He went to work the next day because he didn’t think the pain was serious, but when he got to work he still felt the pain. He went to the hospital to have it checked.”

Following medical examinations, Mark received the cancer diagnosis, discovering that the disease had already begun spreading throughout his body. He kept his hospitalization a secret from his wife, who was unaware of his condition until he was discharged and called to see her.

Nathalie was shocked by his appearance when she finally saw him, as he had lost a significant amount of weight. She tearfully recounted the heart-wrenching experience, saying, “When I saw him, I couldn’t recognize him, he lost so much weight. I started crying and asking what happened.”

Despite Mark’s deteriorating health and increasing difficulty in walking, he was hesitant to return to the hospital. However, his family, including his best friend and brother-in-law, attempted to persuade him to seek medical care. Eventually, an ambulance was called, and Mark was taken back to the hospital.

Mark leaves behind three children, one aged three and a set of twins who turned two shortly after their father’s passing. Nathalie had hoped to celebrate their milestone birthday alongside her husband. However, Mark had kept his illness hidden until it was too late for any effective intervention.

Nathalie shared her anguish, revealing, “The doctor told me that Mark had lung cancer. He explained to me that he didn’t want me to worry about it, that’s why he hid it. I was told by the doctor to stay with my husband because it was too late to help him. I was still hoping he’d be okay, and Mark kept saying he’d be here for the kids.”

The sudden and untimely loss of Mark has left a profound void in the lives of his family and friends. Described as a kind and loving person, Mark always prioritized the well-being and protection of his loved ones.

Fritz Manga, Mark’s best friend, expressed his grief, saying, “He was a happy guy. He enjoyed people’s company and playing football with the boys. All of a sudden, we noticed he was absent. He tried to hide it from us as well. What is upsetting us is that we didn’t know earlier so we could spend quality time with him before he went. He was my childhood friend. We convinced him to come over so we could be closer.”

To fulfill Mark’s final request, his friends and family are currently raising funds to repatriate his body to Cameroon. This gesture will allow him to be laid to rest in his home country.