THE remarkable story of a Lochwinnoch man whose life was extended after he was given a dead teenager’s heart is being told in a poignant new book.

Johnstone High pupil Marc McCabe was a happy teenager who loved playing football but his life was turned upside down at the age of 15 when a virus attacked his heart.

Hundreds of miles away, in the Midlands, 16-year-old Martin Burton was dreaming of a career in medicine.

However, he faced his own battle for survival after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Tragically, Martin couldn’t be saved but his parents, Nigel and Sue, made the decision to donate their son’s organs.

Among those to benefit was Marc, who underwent a heart transplant.

That was back in 2003 and the operation allowed Marc to live for another 13 years before he passed away last September.

Now a book has been written about Marc and Martin, who never met but shared an incredible connection.

Cole Moreton’s book - The Boy Who Gave His Heart Away - will be launched in Lochwinnoch next week, in what is sure to be an emotional occasion for Marc’s loved ones.

His mum Linda, 54, told the Gazette: “Cole wanted to write about Marc and Martin and how they had met.

“I couldn’t read the book through the tears when it got to the part about Marc’s funeral.”

Linda will always be grateful to Nigel and Sue for taking the difficult decision to donate Martin’s organs.

She said: “Marc had suffered a stroke, his liver and kidneys had shut down and his lung collapsed. He had a virus called cardiomyopathy that attacked his heart to a point where it grew three times larger than it should have been.”

As his family staged a vigil at his hospital bed, unconscious Marc was completely oblivious to the fact doctors had told them he had no more than a one per cent chance of survival.

However, being given a new heart just days before his 16th birthday proved to be a lifesaver.

Linda said: “It is unusual for families of donors to keep in touch with the person who received their organ but Sue and I became lifelong friends.

“She was there for me when Marc died 13 years after being given Martin’s heart.”

The transplant gave Marc the chance to become a loving uncle to seven nieces and nephews.

However, after months of health issues, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

The book launch will take place at Lochbarr Leisure Centre, in Lochwinnoch, on Friday, April 21, from 7.30pm.

Linda said: “The launch will take place on Martin’s birthday, so we will go to Lochwinnoch Cemetery before, where his heart was buried inside Marc.

“We will celebrate the lives of the two boys and thank Cole for immortalising Marc and Martin through this book.”

Copies of the book will be on sale, with all proceeds donated to the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

To make a donation or contribute a raffle prize, contact Evelyn Milligan at Lochbarr Services.

To join the organ donor register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk