MS SUFFERER JOHN BOUNCES BACK TO LAND DREAM JOB WITH GARDAÍ
NEW ROSS GARDA RESERVE OVERCAME AN MS DIAGNOSIS AND WEIGHT GAIN
A DIAGNOSIS of MS in 2017 saw New Ross man John Butler forced to give up on his dream of becoming a garda, suddenly facing into an unknown future, possibly in a wheelchair.
Last week his dream came true when – having battled MS, weight issues and depression – he got to return part-time to work as a Garda Reserve officer, four stone lighter having completed a Slimming World programme.
John (35) had filled in an application form to train to be a guard in early 2017 – having been a reserve garda for five years – when he started feeling unwell.
He was working in Lake Region and one day started suffering from pins and needles.
‘I thought it was from sitting down all the time,’ he said.
The pain moved up his body to his hip over the following days and weeks, getting so bad that he couldn’t walk.
He attended Ardkeen Regional Hospital where he stayed for a month until he was diagnosed with MS.
‘ The first thing that entered my head was “am I going to end up in a wheelchair?” It was a huge shock for me, and it changed my life forever. After trying so hard to stay in work, my body just wasn’t able, I left work and gave up chasing my dream career to become a garda. I was at a low point in my life and became very depressed, I became less and less active. I was very down; my life had come to a screeching halt.’
After several weeks of injections, he started feeling better, but that May he got a relapse.
‘I had lost hope in myself and given up. I had gone from a size medium to an extra-large in tops and a 32-inch waist to a 38 nearly a 40-inch waist.’
John managed to return to work in September 2017, with his employers Lake Region doing everything they could to facilitate him.
His illness relapsed in January 2018 and, having been advised by doctors to stop working, John went on an invalidity pension.
‘Part of me welcomed the end of the chaos,’ he said.
John struggled with being at home all of the time as his dream of being a garda faded.
‘I became depressed when I figured out I was going on 32, knowing that I had always worked. I was in the Reserve Army, kickboxing; I was an active person. Being a stay at home dad was great but I wasn’t used to it.’
John turned to food and developed bad eating habits. His weight ballooned to 16st 3lbs.
It was at this time that his partner Amanda Mylett and doctor advised John to try losing some weight.
‘Amanda’s boss had gone to Slimming World and found it great. Amanda went up to Tesco and got me a voucher. I didn’t want to go but said I’d go to keep her happy. My starting weight was 16st 3lbs. I had gained over four stone in less than four years. I had a flare up and changed the tablets I was on. I had less energy, I got tired very easily and for a while I also couldn’t get around without walking aids. I started eating a lot of unhealthy foods and, again, I gained more weight.’
He was nervous walking through the doors of Slimming World. ‘I had this idea that Slimming World was just for women. Once I went in, they were very welcoming. I knew a couple of people.’
John was hooked after the first meeting. He later noticed that there was another man in the group and he bonded with him and all of the crew.
Arising from his sporting background, he knew losing weight was 80 per cent food, 20 per cent exercise.
‘From the start I committed to doing everything in the Slimming World book. I used BodyMagic to tone up. It was great as you were in a room with people who had the same goal.’
John lost 9lbs in the first week. ‘I ate more food that week then I ever had and never felt hungry. I was hooked. I just gave it my all and I noticed I was getting better. My side effects [from the tablets] weren’t as bad because of the meals I was eating. I had more energy when getting up in the morning. Sometimes I’m groggy because, with MS, you have your good days and your bad days.’
Within six months he lost four stone.
Having joined the Garda Reserve in 2012 and sat his test the following year, John always had that focus in mind to return to the guards.
‘ The guards welcomed me back this summer. I got the all clear to go back temporarily just before Covid but, because of Covid, I couldn’t go on duty. I applied for an exemption and Social Welfare has given me an exemption so I can be a reserve.’
The Garda Reserve is voluntary work and John would recommend it to anyone. The minimum Garda reserve officers do is 208 hours a year and John hopes he can do a lot more in 2021.
‘I’m working a five-hour week which will be reviewed in a few months. It’s probationary due to my health. I enjoy it; it’s something I have been trying to get in to for years as a full-time garda, but obviously I can’t now with my condition and the age limit. This is the only thing I can hold on to.
‘I do have a good life. I’m able to meet my friends. I’m not bedbound like 90 per cent of people with MS. It’s all possible if you get your mind right and food right. I have fake-aways which are just as nice as what you get in the chipper. When you eat healthy it isn’t more expensive if you plan right. You can batch cook.’
John does have bad days and his MS symptoms can vary hugely one week to the next.
‘I’m sure though, that if I were still four stone heavier, I’d be finding everyday life so much harder than I am now,’ he said.
John has thanked Yvonne at Slimming World New Ross and Ramsgrange for her help and support, and also Amanda and his family.
Now weighing 12st 3lbs, John said he put on a bit of weight after a small setback in his eating plan during Covid-19 lockdown, but has since shed it. Meanwhile, he can’t wait to go to work. ‘I looked forward to going in to work. I love it and I enjoy every time I go in.’
John still goes to group every week, using the virtual service.
‘While it’s not the same as physically being together, the support, the friendship, the motivation, the new ideas on how to cope in this current situation, it’s all there.’