VIDEO: An Oregon firefighter was forced to hang up his helmet, not by choice but by a devastating diagnosis. His struggle is revealing a hidden link between firefighting and cancer. Answering the call as a firefighter came as a natural fit for Mike Roulette. โI love it, and I love all the things about it. Something I always wanted to do,โ he said. โIt is more of a calling than a job. Itโs more of a family.โ
For years, Mikeโs job was saving lives. But now, heโs fighting for his. โIโm off the job due to the tumor I have,โ he explained. Five years ago, Mike was forced to leave Tigard Station 51 with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. โI was diagnosed, it was stage 2 glioma, which is brain cancer. Itโs since progressed to stage 3,โ he said. โIโve had multiple surgeries. Open brain surgery, chemo, radiation. Doctors have said that I canโt go back. Ultimately, itโs fatal.โ
โIt was very shocking, we had three little kids at the time, they were all under the age of 9,โ said Ivy Roulette, Mikeโs wife. โThe one thing thatโs come out of it that I think that has been very good is that appreciation for every single moment, every day.โ โItโs hard, hard. This is the career I always wanted to do and Iโm thankful for the time that Iโve been able to do that. So, not being able to do it anymore is difficult,โ Mike said.
