A man left blind and paralysed by a devastating medical condition has achieved his lifelong ambition - by becoming an emergency care worker.
Ross Mallinson, 28, from Crosland Moor, feared he would never see or walk again after being struck down by a rare and incurable autoimmune disorder.
But after going on medication the former spray painter has made an astonishing recovery - and has now qualified as an emergency care assistant.
It is an amazing achievement for Ross, who was struck down by neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in March 2014 and within a month was in hospital in Calderdale, completely blind and paralysed and on an intravenous drip.
Medics didn’t know if his vision or walking would come back because the condition affects everyone differently.
But slowly his sight began to return, and now he is living a normal life, although still takes medication and has to visit a specialist in Liverpool every six months.
It is hard to tell whether NMO will come back again and it can’t be 100% guaranteed, but specialists are hopeful it won’t return.
NMO is an incurable but treatable autoimmune disorder, whereby the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy cells, most commonly in the optic nerves and spinal chord.
There are only around 100,000 sufferers in the world.
Ross, who lives with partner Rebecca Sidle, said: “It’s a relapsing condition but it’s been two years now, and men are more likely to just have the one attack.
“The specialist thinks they can wean me off the medication, and thinks it won’t come back.
“I can remember lying in the hospital and just hoping I would be able to see again. At the time I wasn’t as bothered about not being able to walk as I was about not being able to see.
“So to have come from there to now be doing the job I always wanted is a wonderful feeling.”
He praised the ambulance service for not letting his condition affect his chances of landing the job.
He always wanted to work for the emergency services but couldn’t afford time off from his spray painting job to study at university, and instead worked in patient transport to get his ‘foot in the door’. He was then asked if he wanted to be an emergency care assistant and applied, passed all the tests, is now fully qualified and has recently started his new role.
“I go out with the paramedics and attend at incidents and we can do some of the medical stuff, but the paramedics make the final decision.
“It is something I have always wanted to do and it’s great to be out there helping people.”
Last year Ross hit the headlines after joining Crosland Moor teammate John Greenhalgh to win Huddersfield crown green bowling’s Meltham Cup Pairs competition.
Ross has been bowling since the age of 11.
