The former Derby and Newport County defender has had two open heart operations – one to save his career, the other to save his life
The way Mark O’Brien saw it, he had two things to save when he went under the knife for open heart surgery as a 16-year-old. First was his burgeoning football career at County and second was his life, which is why he opted for his two heart operations to rectify a leaking aortic valve in the order he did. Pig-skin valve first, then metallic valve 11 years later — two hearts to bookend his career in football.
“Derby stood by me and it was the first place I’d moved to on my own. At Newport, I was able to play to the best of my abilities and captain that great club, score the only goals I’ve ever scored in my career and play with a smile on my face. “I’ve made a life for myself in Newport where I can work and be around every day working in football. It’s another club that stuck by me at another really extreme time in my life after the second open heart surgery.
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