Mark Oksanen
From kidney failure to athletic victory.
Former Squadron Leader and Air Traffic Controller Mark Oksanen’s Defence career spanned 28 years before he retired in 2023. Overcoming many health challenges and a kidney transplant, Mark has made the most of it, securing three gold medals and a record javelin throw at the World Transplant Games in 2023.
Despite a healthy lifestyle, in 2021 he was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure due to Iga Nephropathy. Mark describes feeling very sick, and with his kidney function so low, he required peritoneal dialysis. A tube was put into his abdomen, something he described as shocking to see post-surgery, “There’s no zip, it’s just something imbedded into your abdomen so you can be plugged into a machine.”
Peritoneal dialysis replaces the important blood cleaning functions that kidneys manage, but the process is no walk in the park. Mark was required to change the bags four times per day, and many activities, including running and swimming, were out of the question. Through all of this, Mark was able to stay at work and considers himself lucky that his Defence career supported him well through this time.
Late one night a few years ago, Mark received the phone call telling him that he was getting a kidney transplant. After unhooking himself from the peritoneal dialysis machine, Mark made what he describes as “the most careful drive” to the hospital for the life-changing surgery.
He was given the ‘all clear’ to begin training for the Transplant Games after only 6 months, and the results of his effort were spectacular. Competing in golf, soccer, men’s doubles tennis and javelin in the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth, Mark took home three gold medals and secured a new javelin record.
Some time ago, Mark wrote a letter to the donor family through the DonateLife anonymised letter writing program, and shares that it took half a day to find the words to express his gratitude, knowing that they made the decision to donate at a really sad time, but that without their generosity, he probably wouldn’t be here.
Despite his resilience and positive attitude, Mark admits that he’s had various setbacks including ongoing challenges from his time serving in Iraq and medications that negatively impacted his metabolism. Initially following the transplant, Mark was taking around 10–12 different medications each day, and is now grateful to only need half that number to maintain his health.
These days he’s enjoying his retirement and is far from bored; after competing in the 2025 World Transplant Games in Germany last year, he’s already planning for the upcoming Games in Belgium. On top of his busy family life, Mark has maintained a gruelling athletic schedule, but describes his calendar as “happily full.”
Life-changing organ transplants, like the kidney Mark received, are only possible because of organ donors. It only takes 1 minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or through your Medicare Account.
Written by Megan Newman Details shared by Mark Oksanen
