Thu, Jun 8, 2017
Twenty four year old Ryan has spent the last five years in a hospital room, 50 miles away from home and his loving family. At the time, warehouse worker Dave Pollard and checkout operator Rachel were happily living in a small three bedroom house in south Bristol, filled to the brim with their four kids: Ryan, Jason, Darren and Gemma. Then the family's busy lives came to a screeching halt. After serious headaches five years ago, Ryan was rushed in for an emergency operation where doctors discovered he had a blocked ventricle. A CT scan revealed that the build up of fluid and pressure had caused brain damage. Ryan had lost control of his breathing and swallowing and was partially paralysed. He was transferred to the nearest specialist neurological unit, 50 miles away. Five years later, he's still there and his loving mother Rachel catches public transport for five hours every day to visit Ryan. This family is torn apart. The house needs a downstairs extension with all the bespoke care provision that Ryan will need: physio space, wet room, family space and the ability to access the entire ground floor. If the family doesn't get this work done, Ryan will remain in hospital. They need the DIY SOS team and the generous volunteers of Bristol help to get Ryan home.
Thu, Jun 15, 2017
Kidney failure has meant that midwife Sascha has to endure intensive dialysis at hospital just to stay alive. This intense dialysis for hours on end, five days a week, places her body under immense stress with the constant threat of life risking blood clots. If this continues, Sascha, a mother to four children, has a life expectancy of just a few years. However, Sascha could do self dialysis daily from her home, and the increase in frequency and the decrease in intensity would mean her life expectancy and lifestyle would improve dramatically. So that is where DIY SOS and the generous volunteers and trades of Billy's home turf, Welwyn Garden City, step up to help one of their own. In an emotionally charged episode, Sascha's family home is completely renovated and extended to include a dedicated home dialysis room for Sascha, which offers her a lifeline and extra years with her loving family.
Thu, Jun 22, 2017
In Shropshire, three amazing schoolchildren and an energetic head teacher inspire the DIY SOS team and hundreds of volunteers to help 12 year old Matthew return home from hospital for the first time in three years, after suffering cancer and a stroke. Matthew has yearned to return home, but as his house is completely unsuitable for his complex medical needs and equipment, he is stuck in hospital. His schoolmates fundraised wherever they could and campaigned to get Matthew home. Now the DIY SOS team join their crusade. With a Doctor Who inspired interior design, enormous community spirit and the power of friendship, this is a DIY SOS Big Build to inspire.