Man's blow after transplant

A former Cannock journalist who underwent a lifesaving double lung transplant has suffered a blow after discovering his body has started rejecting his new organs.

Mark Allen had the life-saving operation on his birthday 15 months ago and only started work full time again last week.

His doctors broke the news just after Mark, formerly of Cannock Wood, started a new job with Halton Council in Widnes on January 2.

Mark, aged 35, said: "It is the worst possible timing when I am just starting a new job. But it is one of those things and I just hope it doesn't affect me too much."

He now faces even more tests so experts can decide on the best course of treatment.

He was born with the lung disease cystic fibrosis and underwent a double lung transplant on his birthday in 2005 after contracting pneumonia.

He worked for the Express & Star and had also previously worked for the Cannock Chronicle and the Staffordshire Newsletter.

He decided to take a break from journalism to spend three years travelling through Australia, Asia and the Far East. Afterwards he worked at Walsall Council's press office and has now moved on to Widnes.

After becoming ill Mark found he could walk no more than a few feet and had to be attached to oxygen 24 hours a day. A donor was found on October 21 2005.