After more than 30 years as a firefighter with West Midlands FRS and another decade behind the wheel as a lorry driver, Gerry Wallbank has always led a busy, physically demanding life. But in recent years, everything changed.
Now 70, Gerry is living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a serious lung condition that’s dramatically altered his day-to-day life.
Due to his condition, Gerry was unable to shower by himself, relying on his wife to support him for a number of months. Recently, however, our Welfare Team was able to support Gerry with advice and information on statutory help, as well as a contribution towards the funds needed to install a wet room, giving him his independence once again.
“The main health condition that I’m living with COPD, which I contracted four years ago,” says Gerry, 70. “I was unfortunate to contract non-contagious TB, which left me with the lung problems.
“The impact it’s had long-term has been huge. Up until two weeks before hospital, I’d been part-time working as a lorry driver, so I was a very active person. It’s changed my life completely, I can’t do probably a quarter of what I could do before.
“I’d always been someone that, when I’d say I was going outside to sit in the sunshine, I’d find a million and one things to do, just tinkering around doing things constantly… now I have to think about it, work myself up to it, and then struggle to do what I want to do. I can’t walk very far, before having to sit down, it’s really turned my life upside down.”
Gerry had always been aware of the support we offer, having accessed a rest and recharge stay with his wife several years earlier, while still working. However, he didn’t consider getting in touch with us more recently until some time into his illness – and he now wishes he’d reached out sooner.
“About two years ago I ended up back in hospital again and they told me I had pneumonia,” Gerry adds. “When I came back out, I was really gasping for breath. One night, it took me 25 minutes to get upstairs to bed, that’s how bad it was.
“My GP suggested I contact our local occupational health team, but while I waited I was continuing to really struggle so had to look at my savings and unfortunately ended up having to buy a stairlift.
“When the occupational health team came, they suggested putting us forward for a wet room conversion.
“They told us we could apply for a government grant but, unfortunately, ours was quoted at more than the amount the grant would cover – and we’d need to pay the excess. It’s around then I thought to contact the charity, to see if there was any way they could help.”
Gerry was awarded a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to convert the bathroom to a wet room and we were able to assist by paying the shortfall, enabling the works to be completed.
“I was over the moon when they told me, I couldn’t believe it. My savings had already taken a major hit due to my health, so this was a huge relief,” he says.
“You’ve made such a difference to my life. My wife had to supervise me before, and without her I’d have been lost – but now I can shower myself without any problems and I’ve got my independence back.
“Having paid into the charity throughout my career, it means a lot to see the difference those funds can make first-hand.”
If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or visit the ‘Access Support’ tab in My Fire Fighters Charity.