Meet the Nottingham firefighter who doesn't let his Spina Bifida stop him from helping others
A firefighter has shared how his condition has not held him back and encouraged him to become "more resilient and stronger mentally." Michael Foster has always known he wanted to work in the emergency services and remembers "being drawn to the fire service" from a young age.
He shared: "f you ask my Mum, apparently I was one of those kids that always waved at fire engines growing up." Now 32-years-old, Michael has been a firefighter for over three years and works for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service as a full-time firefighter, and also serves at Billingborough as an on-call firefighter.
However, if battling fires and saving lives was not challenging enough, Michael does it whilst also fighting Spina Bifida Meningocele. Spina Bifida is a type of neural tube defect which causes a gap in the spine and according to the NHS website, Spina Bifida Meningocele is a serious form of the condition where the protective membranes around the spinal cord push out through the spine.
Although most people are able to have surgery to close the opening in the spine, the nervous system is usually already damaged and this can lead to symptoms like a weakness or paralysis in the legs or a loss of skin sensation in the legs. Michael explained: "Mine was caught very young when I wasn't even one years old, and luckily I had corrective surgery on my lower back around my first birthday
"There are good day and bad days like with any condition. I generally try not to let it impact my work but I also know that when I am having a really bad day, I need to let the team around me know so I don't injury or impact any jobs we attend."
Michael, of Bilborough, continued: "Honestly, I've had the condition for over 32 years and I can remember 'fighting' it every day really since Secondary School. The main thing is that having Spina Bifida Meningocele has made me more resilient and stronger mentally so when that's required, having battled for a while, it comes a little easier.
"But at the same time, like I said with the other question, it's about being honest with yourself and the team around you with what can help and what they can do to assist me or visa versa." He shared that his crew are "really supportive" about his condition.
Adding: "But at the same time, I think they forget most of the time as I am generally no different to the others on my crew so it's quite easy. In terms of support training, with the job that Firefighters do, you can't really adapt too much but you can be honest with the crew on what the limitations are and what you are struggling with.
"Finally, a good sports massage monthly can really help my back cope and build the resilience needed." When asked what he would say to someone who wants to be a firefighter but feels unsure if they can do it, especially if they have a similar condition, Michael replied: "You can do it, as long as you can believe in yourself and you have the mental courage to admit when you are struggling and need the assistance, the crews on station will do their best to happily support you if you ask.
"And if you are having a bad day, it's amazing what a Cup of Tea around the mess table can do." He went on to share that "no two days are ever the same" in the job, but not matter what "we are always there when people are having their worst days and we must do our best to turn that around for them and make it better."