Keith's Hope Story

Firefighter Keith contracted Covid in August 2021. “I lost a week of my life and a stone and a half in weight” Keith reflects. Three months later, still off work, he was diagnosed with Long Covid. But, as Keith’s symptoms slowly started to improve, he went back to the gym, to get fit again for his return to work. 

However, the improvement didn’t last long. “I had this heaviness in my chest and then this pain started in my jaw”. Keith was diagnosed with possible unstable angina in January 2022. “I still remember that phone call” he says. “I thought my career was over.” Previously very fit, healthy and active, Keith had been regularly running half marathons and even full marathons. “I never thought this was going to happen to me” he says. Keith realises that he “spent the majority of 2022 in a very dark place. It was a bad year.”  

Keith was left feeling overwhelming stress due to the possibility of not returning to being a firefighter plus the fear of suffering a possible heart attack. 

Recognising that his mental health was suffering and that he needed help, Keith read about Hope for Fire fighters course. He felt that 6 weeks, at his own pace, was what he needed. He signed up, but on the day the course started, Keith was in hospital, having two stents fitted. “The facilitator was brilliant about it. He said there was no pressure, I could take it at my own pace. He put me very much at ease”. 

Keith soon caught up, and found the app very easy to use. “There were plenty of YouTube videos, which I saved to my favourites. They didn’t over-burden you with too many technical terms on the course. There was enough information for me to process within the timescales” Keith explains. He liked the complete flexibility of being able to read and re-read sections of the course content two or three times if he needed, going back to an earlier page when he wanted to. 

The goal-setting activities were the most helpful part of what Keith learned on the course. “If I’m having problems, I’ve always previously tended to want to solve everything now” he says. “But setting goals lets me portion it up. These things I can do in 5 days. The next things in 2-3 weeks. And some in the next 2-3 months”. This is helping Keith as he continues to work on his physical fitness. “I’ve really ,really missed running” he says. “I’m not just going be able to start running 30 miles straight away.” So, with what he learned on the Hope Programme and advice from his cardiac rehab team, Keith has just bought a rowing machine in the January sales. “I’m focusing on the positives now, how much I can do and how long for. I’m taking Hope fully on board with this!” 

So what would Keith say to someone who is considering joining the Hope for Fire fighters course? “Fire fighters, especially men, tend not to reach out for help. I’m not sure why, because they could really benefit! Even if I can plant a seed that can help one person, I’d encourage them to do the Hope course. Without the Programme, I wouldn’t be in the workplace now.”