{"id":4647,"date":"2026-07-31T18:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/?p=4647"},"modified":"2026-07-31T18:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:10:40","slug":"britains-got-talent-singer-inspired-by-brothers-battle-with-locked-in-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/?p=4647","title":{"rendered":"Britain\u2019s Got Talent singer inspired by brother\u2019s battle with Locked-in Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220717\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_473631c5-bf60-4ac0-8e28-787b64682834JPG.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_473631c5-bf60-4ac0-8e28-787b64682834JPG.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_473631c5-bf60-4ac0-8e28-787b64682834JPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220717.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_473631c5-bf60-4ac0-8e28-787b64682834JPG.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome<\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome\" data-testid=\"caption-title\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mark's emotional tribute to brother leaves audience in tears | Auditions | BGT 2019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S3VUINOMgN0\" width=\"943\" height=\"539\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">As his beloved brother lay silent and motionless in the hospital bed, trapped in his own body, Mark McMullan spent hours playing him their special song in the desperate hope he could hear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">One earplug in Declan\u2019s ear, one in his own, together they listened to the powerful lyrics of the Les Miserables classic Bring Him Home \u2013 \u201cLet him be, Let him live, Let me die\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">That universal prayer of hope became the symbol of Britain\u2019s Got Talent semi-finalist Mark and his family\u2019s struggle to bring the then 19-year-old Declan back to the family home from hospital after a cardiac arrest tragically left him with locked-in syndrome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Architect Mark, now 24, from Crossgar, Co Down, Northern Ireland, explains, \u201cDeclan was my biggest fan, and that was the song I had sung in my local junior production of Les Miserables.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220638.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_SycoThames.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220638.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_SycoThames.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220638.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_SycoThames.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220638.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_SycoThames.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\"><strong>VIdeo<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mark's emotional tribute to brother leaves audience in tears | Auditions | BGT 2019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S3VUINOMgN0\" width=\"943\" height=\"539\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220638\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220638\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Mark McMullan says his brother Declan is his biggest fan\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mark McMullan says his brother Declan is his biggest fan<cite class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" aria-label=\"Image: ITV\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: ITV)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\" data-marker-percentage=\"25\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220730\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220730\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220730.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_68c62590-8476-4ece-bc38-6664ca4ae1c5JPG.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220730.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_68c62590-8476-4ece-bc38-6664ca4ae1c5JPG.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220730.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_68c62590-8476-4ece-bc38-6664ca4ae1c5JPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220730.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_68c62590-8476-4ece-bc38-6664ca4ae1c5JPG.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ReadMore_readmore-container__D0vBC\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_f8ae0f\" data-testid=\"readmore\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Love Island bosses say they aren\u2019t \u2018a**holes\u2019 but they \u2018need to test relationships\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\u201cBefore he got sick, Declan told me that the only time he\u2019d ever cried in his life was when I sang that song.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\u201cHe was so proud of me, and to see him lying there in hospital, blind, unable to move or speak, my music became a big comfort for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">But proving that with enough love and care, miracles can happen, Declan, now 26, was in the audience in his wheelchair at Mark\u2019s BGT audition to listen as his little brother brought the house down with his beautiful rendition of the song.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">All four judges were clearly moved, and TV\u2019s Mr Nasty Simon Cowell was so touched by Mark\u2019s dedication to his brother, he got up to meet Declan, who was sitting with their parents Brenda and John.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">And for Mark to hear Simon say, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if you start getting calls from West End producers,\u201d is an incredible change in direction since putting singing on hold to support his family.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220641\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220641\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220641.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_98980173-b1ba-4490-9b37-6aa01da30e3fJPG.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220641.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_98980173-b1ba-4490-9b37-6aa01da30e3fJPG.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220641.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_98980173-b1ba-4490-9b37-6aa01da30e3fJPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220641.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_98980173-b1ba-4490-9b37-6aa01da30e3fJPG.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"The two brothers are close in age and have always been close\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The two brothers are close in age and have always been close<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ReadMore_readmore-container__D0vBC\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_f8ae0f\" data-testid=\"readmore\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">BGT\u2019s Alesha Dixon sticks to sparkles as she displays baby bump in sequinned dress<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Close in age, the two brothers have always shared a special bond.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Mark said: \u201cWe were more like best friends than brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">The journey to this year\u2019s Britain\u2019s Got Talent semi-final tonight from March 16 2012, when Declan had a heart attack in his sleep, has been life-changing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mark was aged just 16 when Declan came home early after a night in the local pub complaining of feeling unwell and went to bed early.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The next morning as the Mark got ready for school, he noticed Declan wasn\u2019t up yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI went into his room that Friday morning to get a school tie,\u201d says Mark, \u201cand noticed he was lying at an awkward angle. Like he had just fallen back on to the bed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI called for my mum and dad, and we opened Declan\u2019s eye lids, and his eyes had rolled back in his head.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220713\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220713\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_a1599ca0-1504-4721-9ad4-adc7b25b635fJPG.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_a1599ca0-1504-4721-9ad4-adc7b25b635fJPG.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_a1599ca0-1504-4721-9ad4-adc7b25b635fJPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220713.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_a1599ca0-1504-4721-9ad4-adc7b25b635fJPG.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Mark was 16 when Declan's symptoms started to display\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mark was 16 when Declan\u2019s symptoms started to display<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ReadMore_readmore-container__D0vBC\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_f8ae0f\" data-testid=\"readmore\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">X Factor star Ottavio Donato Columbro is transitioning after depression battle<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cMe and my dad started CPR on him, but at this point he was dead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe paramedics took him straight into ITU at the Royal Victoria in Belfast.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mark\u2019s distressed parents Brenda, 52, an administrator, and John, 51, a painter and decorator, and many of their large extended family rallied round and stood vigil at the hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, the future looked bleak as doctors estimated Declan had been dead for 20-30 minutes before he was found. Mark explains: \u201cThe brain shuts down after four minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But two weeks later when Declan\u2019s ventilator was removed, medics were amazed that he managed to breathe on his own. However, his fight to live was only just beginning.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220714\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220714\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220714.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_71b0c002-6b71-452e-a30f-c46f2904d548JPG.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220714.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_71b0c002-6b71-452e-a30f-c46f2904d548JPG.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220714.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_71b0c002-6b71-452e-a30f-c46f2904d548JPG.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220714.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_71b0c002-6b71-452e-a30f-c46f2904d548JPG.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Declan is still Mark's biggest fan\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Declan is still Mark\u2019s biggest fan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ReadMore_readmore-container__D0vBC\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_f8ae0f\" data-testid=\"readmore\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Janet Street-Porter was \u2018so worried\u2019 about Coleen Nolan when she took three-month break<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">After six weeks in emergency care, Declan was moved into the cardiac ward after doctors discovered that his heart attack had been caused by an underlying congenital condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-marker-percentage=\"75\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">It causes the heart to beat abnormally fast. Six months after the day of his heart attack, Declan was moved into the brain injury unit at Musgrave Park Hospital, also in Belfast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Three months after the move, John realised he could communicate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\u201cWe used to talk to Declan, but we had no idea if he could hear us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Then one day my dad said to Declan, \u2018If you can hear me, then blink twice for yes\u2019 \u2013 and he did!\u201d Declan\u2019s whole family would come and try to talk to him, including his eldest brother, Daniel, 30, a chef, and 19-year-old fashion student sister Anna.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">By saying the alphabet, they were able to get Declan to spell out words.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-16220721\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"16220721\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220721.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screen-Shot-2019-05-29-at-135039-copy.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220721.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Screen-Shot-2019-05-29-at-135039-copy.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220721.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Screen-Shot-2019-05-29-at-135039-copy.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article16220721.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Screen-Shot-2019-05-29-at-135039-copy.jpg 1200w\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" aria-label=\"Simon Cowell meets Declan\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Simon Cowell meets Declan<cite class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" aria-label=\"Image: ITV\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: ITV)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ReadMore_readmore-container__D0vBC\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_f8ae0f\" data-testid=\"readmore\"><span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Love Island\u2019s Iain Stirling teases Eamonn Holmes\u2019 surprise appearance in villa<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Mark laughs when he says that Declan\u2019s first word was unprintable in a family paper. Now that they had Declan back, the family were adamant that he should come home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">The Bring Me Home song that the brothers had loved so much then began to take on even more significance as the family had to battle NHS chiefs who believed Declan would be better off where he was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Now living in Newcastle with his girlfriend Zoe, 25, while he works full-time on a masters degree in architecture, Mark has allowed himself to dream again about a career in music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">\u201cIf I were to win the show, I would just be happy to have any type of career in music, but the cash prize would help us find a cure for Declan and also raise awareness,\u201d says Mark.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">So when Mark takes to the stage tonight, he doesn\u2019t just sing for his brother, but for all the forgotten, silent people who have lost their voices too.<\/p>\n<h1 data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\">Full Video<\/h1>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mark's emotional tribute to brother leaves audience in tears | Auditions | BGT 2019\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S3VUINOMgN0\" width=\"943\" height=\"539\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mark McMullan and his brother Declan who now has locked in syndrome As his beloved brother lay silent and motionless in the hospital bed, trapped in his own body, Mark &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4647"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4647\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4649,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4647\/revisions\/4649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmnews168.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}