User talk:Mark in Iowa

Who is "Mark in Iowa?"

According to a 2017 INA (Iowa newspaper Association) award nomination, Mark in Iowa is actually education, business and criminal trial reporter Mark Newman. He has covered a variety of unfortunate events, from the shooting death of three girls and their parents to one of the worst animal hoarding cases in Iowa history. His columns and humor writing have received mixed reviews. Newman himself made local news in SE Iowa after sinking into a coma from which doctors gave him a low possibility of survival. Following a triple bypass surgery, clots had formed in Newman's lungs. Pulminary specialists were brought in to remove the clots before the could travel to the brain. Numerous smaller clots slipped through, however, causing the patient to suffer "a shower of microstrokes." At some point between operations, Newman stopped breathing for 61 seconds before being placed back on life support. At this point, the patient's kidneys failed. Doctors feared death from sepsis could result.

He was awake three weeks later and began a very publicly visible period of rehabilitation. The medical team at Mercy Hospital -- Des Moines, taught Newman to eat again, to speak clearly and eventually, to walk. After three weeks of dialysis, his kidneys "came back" and his chest catheter was removed.

The newsworthy portion of the story, however, centered on the response of the citizens of Ottumwa and Wapello County. Churches, schools and individuals raised thousands of dollars for the small town writer's medical expenses. In 2016, he returned to work as a staff writer at the Ottumwa Courier. His articles have also appeared on ChicagoTimes.com via the Associated Press. Mark in Iowa (talk) 01:59, 26 December 2017 (UTC)