A CLYDEBANK office worker who suffers from a rare, life-threatening genetic disorder has told how support from his boss and workmates is helping him cope with the illness.

Michael Conway, 51, has an incurable neurological condition called Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), which causes chronic and progressive symptoms such as unsteadiness, fatigue and memory problems.

Despite finding life a struggle, Michael is still able to go to work at BAE Systems, where he is a key member of a cost control team working on the Royal Navy’s Type 26 warship project.

This week, Michael told the Post his colleagues’ words of encouragement were a huge boost to his morale.

He said: “My colleagues are brilliant and a couple of words of encouragement can make a difference and make it easier to battle on.

“My ‘big three’ challenges are fatigue, balance and memory problems.

“Just getting out of bed in the morning is a huge challenge but once I am dressed and in the car I am okay.”

Michael says holding down his high-level job is helping him boost his brain power at a time when memory loss can be a problem.

He said: “I am an estimator dealing with large sums and details can change rapidly. It’s harder for me when things change many times a day, but it means my brain has to work to keep up and that’s a good thing.”

Michael says support and encouragement at BAE Systems Naval Ships goes as high as managing director Iain Stevenson who, among other things, arranged a convenient parking space for him at the office after seeing the difficulty Michael has with walking.

Michael was diagnosed with ALD in 2016 and, in a double health blow in the same year, his wife Carol Ann, 56, was found to have breast cancer.

The tumour was removed but Carol Ann recently had to give up work through continuing ill health.

Michael said: “She has not been without her own problems but we back each other up and that is a great advantage. She is my everyday soulmate and we have been together since we met in the mid-80s.”

Michael now feels his condition is gradually worsening and he has to routinely use a stick for walking to prevent him falling.

He said: “I have broached the subject of death with my doctors, but they don’t say ‘you are going to die’.

“I have been told the ALD won’t be a primary cause of death but a secondary one. I think, fortunately, that’s still a long way away.”

Eight months ago Michael and Carol Ann, who live in Renfrew, became doting grandparents when son Matthew and his partner Natalie welcomed daughter Olivia into their lives.

Michael said he is determined to see his grand-daughter grow up and thinking of her as a teenager is keeping him going.

The good news is Olivia will not inherit Michael’s disease because it is passed from mothers to sons.

Despite everything, Michael remains positive about his situation, and is delighted

Matthew and Natalie have just got engaged.

He said: “I am very upbeat about my challenging life and I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a perfect opportunity to see the world in quite a different way.”