0:00:03 > 0:00:05One of the things that I love about us Brits
0:00:05 > 0:00:07is our spirit of generosity.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10If I can give back to somebody who had a similar struggle to my own,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13then that's what I'd like to do.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Last year, nearly three quarters of us gave to charity
0:00:16 > 0:00:18but what if you had the chance to go back
0:00:18 > 0:00:21and relive moments from your past?
0:00:21 > 0:00:22I wish I was 18 again!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24LAUGHTER
0:00:24 > 0:00:27I'm expecting Mum and Dad to walk out now and say hello, you know?
0:00:27 > 0:00:28Yeah.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Moments which would inspire you to want to help someone today.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I want to give back to those people that are going through that,
0:00:34 > 0:00:35that I went through in the beginning.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37If I can give something to somebody else
0:00:37 > 0:00:39that will change their lives, I would love to.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Fantastic.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Someone who had no idea this life-changing windfall was coming.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48I've got potentially her dream in my hand.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50How are you feeling?
0:00:50 > 0:00:51Nervous.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53'There'll be surprises...'
0:00:53 > 0:00:55- How are you?- Very good!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Thank you so much!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Thank you.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'..with acts of generosity that will change people's lives...'
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I'm really excited.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06We're all crying!
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- Do you need a hug as well? - Yeah, thanks.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10LAUGHTER
0:01:10 > 0:01:11'..forever.'
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Brilliant!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Somebody that just does that for people, it's amazing,
0:01:15 > 0:01:16it really is.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18This is Going Back Giving Back.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Today, I'm going back in history,
0:01:32 > 0:01:34to uncover a really moving story, actually.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37It's a tale of fear and family secrets,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and I'm hoping that by unlocking these mysteries,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42one person can change another's life forever.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46How will a daughter react when she hears for the first time
0:01:46 > 0:01:49why her father's illness was kept a secret?
0:01:49 > 0:01:53It was like something that you were ashamed of or it was a stigma.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Yeah, well, I think people used to think that people were mad.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00But will his story inspire her to make a huge difference
0:02:00 > 0:02:03to someone else's life today?
0:02:03 > 0:02:04If you can withstand that,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08you can pretty much get through anything in life, can't you?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Can she make life easier for one brave young girl?
0:02:13 > 0:02:16She was crying a lot, she was very upset, she went to sleep,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and she woke up and she was just completely paralysed.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24'And the tension builds as we prepare for a massive surprise...'
0:02:24 > 0:02:26They have no idea that we're here, OK?
0:02:26 > 0:02:27Come on, let's go! I can't wait.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33'..with a gift that will transform her life.'
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- Thank you so much! - It's a great pleasure.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43We're about to meet someone from the baby boomer generation,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47someone who was born into the golden age of post-war Britain,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49when there were opportunities at every corner.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51However, for this particular baby boomer,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55what was happening behind closed doors was a very different story.
0:02:55 > 0:02:5963-year-old Anne has made the huge decision to give something back.
0:03:01 > 0:03:02So I have asked her to meet me
0:03:02 > 0:03:05in the beautiful market town of Abergele,
0:03:05 > 0:03:06in the Welsh countryside.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Her life today as a former college principal and senior civil servant
0:03:11 > 0:03:13is a stark contrast to her humble childhood,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16growing up in Moss Side, Manchester.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- Hi, Anne.- Hi, Aled. - How are you?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- Great to see you.- Great to see you. - What a lovely day.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25It's always like this, isn't it, in North Wales?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27- It's always like this in Wales, yes. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Anne's desire to help someone is driven by her experiences
0:03:32 > 0:03:34of growing up with a disabled father.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37It must have been very tough for him.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40- Oh, incredibly.- It was tough for you, of course, as a child
0:03:40 > 0:03:42- but also... - It was tough for the family.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47As a young child, her dad was extremely ill.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51When he was five, he contracted TB, which left him with a severe limp.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Despite being physically disabled,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Anne's remarkable dad worked relentlessly in his butcher shop
0:03:58 > 0:04:00to take care of his young family.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03It was that that's what you did,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06you got on with life and you earned a living.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07You battle through.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10I think that that was quite a tough thing to do
0:04:10 > 0:04:11and a brave thing to do.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I do admire him for that.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15And my mother, indeed.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Already disabled when Anne was four,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21her father suddenly developed epilepsy,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23which meant he suffered massive seizures.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26This life-threatening condition was like a ticking time bomb,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29but her family kept it a secret from the outside world.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Your family never really talked about the epilepsy, did they?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37No, epilepsy was never spoken about.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39In fact, I don't even think I heard
0:04:39 > 0:04:42the word "fit" or "seizure" mentioned.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44But maybe it was because
0:04:44 > 0:04:46it was something that was a bit of a stigma,
0:04:46 > 0:04:47it was associated with it,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51there was a lot of fear and worry about what it was...
0:04:51 > 0:04:54and so it was kind of best covered up,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57people didn't really talk about things in the same way then
0:04:57 > 0:04:59in the '50s and early '60s.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Anne's mum was a strong and constant support to her dad.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05She passed away 15 years ago,
0:05:05 > 0:05:10but her 90-year-old father lives in a residential home near Anne.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's their resilience and ability to get on with life
0:05:13 > 0:05:15despite her dad's disabilities
0:05:15 > 0:05:18that is inspiring Anne to give something back today.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Have you thought about the enormity of what you are doing,
0:05:22 > 0:05:27the fact that you could change somebody's life forever?
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Um...
0:05:29 > 0:05:31- Well, I... - It's pretty big, isn't it?
0:05:31 > 0:05:34I hope, I hope that...
0:05:35 > 0:05:39..however big a change it is to somebody,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43it does help and it makes a difference.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48In order to focus your mind on the task ahead,
0:05:48 > 0:05:49I think it might be a good idea
0:05:49 > 0:05:52if we take a journey back in time as well.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Are you willing to come with me?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- I'm willing to come with you. - I'm glad you said that.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- Shall we head off? - OK, let's do that.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I've parked just over there. Right, here we go.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14We are taking Anne back in time to help her understand
0:06:14 > 0:06:17where her father's resilience and strength comes from.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21As a family, they hardly talked about his disabilities
0:06:21 > 0:06:23but his was a childhood blighted with illness.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I'm hoping that discovering the reality of what her dad went through
0:06:28 > 0:06:31will reinforce Anne's desire to help someone today.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37So, the million-dollar question - any idea where we are going?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- I think I might have worked it out. - Oh, really?
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Well, because, first of all, Abergele is not a big place,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48and I have just seen a sign that says hospital and...
0:06:48 > 0:06:51"Abergele" and "hospital" have a particular resonance
0:06:51 > 0:06:55for me and my family because my father was here from age five.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02As a young child, Anne's father was diagnosed with TB,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05a highly contagious disease.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08From as early as 1911 through to the 1950s,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12patients like Anne's dad were separated from their parents
0:07:12 > 0:07:14and sent to sanatoriums to be treated.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18How long was he there for?
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I think about five years, from age five to ten.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25I certainly know he went in '31
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and I have a picture of him in 1934
0:07:29 > 0:07:31and he's aged eight.
0:07:31 > 0:07:32Ah, OK.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39In that picture, he's standing up, for the first time, with his mum
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- after three years of laying down... - Goodness me.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45..and not being able to move.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47That must have been pretty momentous.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51I don't think he came home then, I think it was another year or two.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Today, TB is easily treated with antibiotics but at the time,
0:07:56 > 0:08:00it was believed that fresh air and rest was the best cure,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03so the children were made to stay in bed at all times.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06In many cases, for years.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08The disease mainly affects the lungs,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11but it can also infect other parts of the body, including bones,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13which is what happened to Anne's dad.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18And what impact did the TB have on him?
0:08:18 > 0:08:20He was left with a physical disability,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23in that he had one leg that was longer than the other...
0:08:23 > 0:08:28- Ah, OK, right.- ..so he always had to have his shoes built up.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34By the late 1950s, with the introduction of the BCG vaccination,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37TB became preventable and curable with medical advances
0:08:37 > 0:08:40so the sanatoriums were closed down.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Guess what, you were right.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46LAUGHTER
0:08:46 > 0:08:49You were very crafty, weren't you? You saw that hospital sign.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I just noticed, yes.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00This is Anne's first visit to the Abergele Sanitorium.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05So will the revelations of what her father experienced here
0:09:05 > 0:09:10at such a young age inspire her to want to help someone in need today?
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- How do you feel being here? - What a building, goodness gracious.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18You've only got to imagine that in 1930.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19My dad arriving here
0:09:19 > 0:09:24as a five-year-old little boy with his mum and dad in tow.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- Must have been terrifying, don't you think?- So scary.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30It probably wasn't a sunny day like this,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33it was probably grey and rainy, and, you know,
0:09:33 > 0:09:38you were going to be left here when your parents go back to Manchester.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- Goodness. - So would they visit him then?
0:09:41 > 0:09:44I think they did come and visit him but only weekly,
0:09:44 > 0:09:45and if they were lucky,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48because I think there was a bus that came from Manchester
0:09:48 > 0:09:52and brought the parents of all the children that were left here.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57I know my grandfather had a motorbike at some point,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00and they were able to visit, but I think it was weekly visits,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02nothing more than that, maybe even longer.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It doesn't bear thinking about, does it, these days?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10I mean we're talking pre-National Health Service, aren't we,
0:10:10 > 0:10:15and the understanding of the need of children to be with their parents
0:10:15 > 0:10:19to actually make a recovery better in a family environment,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21to be totally separated,
0:10:21 > 0:10:25it really must have felt like Velcro being torn apart, I'm sure.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Did he ever talk about it?
0:10:27 > 0:10:31No, no. Even now, we have to encourage him to say things,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34although he does a lot more now.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38When my sister and I were growing up,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42we were aware that my dad had been in hospital,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45but he never really mentioned it and he just got on with life,
0:10:45 > 0:10:47so we never asked him about it, obviously.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- Shall we go and have a little wander?- Yeah, that'd be great.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52- Are you OK?- Yes. - It is quite overwhelming, isn't it?
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- No, it will be fantastic. - Come on, let's go.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58'This is obviously a very moving visit for Anne.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01'Even today her dad Norman is reluctant to speak
0:11:01 > 0:11:04'about what life was like for him here,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08'but we've arranged for someone to meet us who remembers it very well.'
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- I might have a little surprise for you here as well.- Right.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I hope you like surprises.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Come and meet this gentleman.
0:11:16 > 0:11:17How are you?
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- Very nice to see you. - Nice to see you, sir.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Hello.- I'm David.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- Hello, I'm Anne, good to meet you. - Very nice to meet you.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28David has one thing in common with your father.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- Right.- Which is?
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- I was an ex-patient here, I was in from 1945 to 1950.- Really?
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- Gosh. - What was it like?
0:11:37 > 0:11:38Well, we knew nothing else.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39And you lay in your bed?
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Yeah, just strapped down on a frame.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- Yeah, that's what Dad says. - Yeah, on a frame, yeah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- Strapped down?- Strapped down.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- The cure at the time was complete stillness and fresh air. - That's right, yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52And that's what you got - strapped down on your frame
0:11:52 > 0:11:54and shoved out, hail, rain or shine.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57If it was raining, you were under the veranda.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- If it wasn't, you were out. - Out there.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04The Abergele Sanatorium was opened in 1931,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08specifically to treat children with TB from Manchester.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11The disease thrived in overcrowded industrial slums,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15and reached epidemic proportions in the north-west of England,
0:12:15 > 0:12:17killing tens of thousands of people.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21It was hoped moving children to the countryside would cure them.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26How old were you, David, when you came here?
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- I was...three when I came here. - My dad was five when he came here.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- Eight when I went out. - Yeah, and Dad was about ten.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35That must have been quite scary, wasn't it?
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Again, it was all we knew.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42How was it saying goodbye to parents and things like that?
0:12:42 > 0:12:44It was a bit heart-wrenching,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46cos you knew you weren't going to see your mum and dad
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- until next weekend, next Sunday. - That's right.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51It's amazing that you're smiling about it.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53For someone of my generation,
0:12:53 > 0:12:58the idea of being strapped down in your bed and wheeled out,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01as you say, rain or shine, it sounds absolutely horrendous,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04you know, being on your own without your parents.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Well, you had your mate next door, we were all pals.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10We were like brothers and sisters, you know what I mean?
0:13:11 > 0:13:15David's parents kept a record of his time at the sanatorium,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19regularly taking photos that depict what it was like here.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21What have you got in here?
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Basically, really, my stuff.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- That is me in plaster. - Yeah, exactly.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- So, what? They plastered you...? - Oh, yeah.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Some children with TB had radical operations to fuse joints and bones
0:13:37 > 0:13:40to stop the disease from spreading.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42It then meant huge parts of their bodies
0:13:42 > 0:13:44were covered in plaster while the bones recovered.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Look at that! I had no idea!
0:13:50 > 0:13:51That wasn't so bad, really.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53The worst part was having your plaster replaced -
0:13:53 > 0:13:55that was horrible.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It was like laying in a swamp for two days while you dried out,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- it was terrible.- So this plaster would be from here...
0:14:01 > 0:14:05- From here, to here. - Oh, my goodness me.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- Gives you a bit of insight into what your dad went through. - Doesn't it?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11David's first-hand account is bringing to life
0:14:11 > 0:14:15what Anne's dad must have experienced from the age of five to ten
0:14:15 > 0:14:18and I'm hoping will fuel her desire to give something back.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- So where are you going to take us? - I'm going to take you to the ward,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26the babies ward and then the ward that I was on for the duration.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- Where was that, down here? - Yeah, yeah.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32So this is where your dad would've been then.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33I know, exactly, in here.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Even though the sanatorium closed 60 years ago,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40the building has not changed
0:14:40 > 0:14:44so Anne can see exactly where her father was cared for as a young boy.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50How do you feel, coming here now, knowing this is where your dad was?
0:14:50 > 0:14:52It is incredibly moving.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56It's very moving to think of these little boys in his case,
0:14:56 > 0:14:57and in your case, David,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01actually lying flat on their backs in beds,
0:15:01 > 0:15:05wheeled in and out, according to the weather,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08but mostly, it sounds as if you were wheeled out
0:15:08 > 0:15:10because the fresh air was to cure the TB.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12It was stillness and fresh air.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It's a good explanation to me as to why my dad is so cheerful
0:15:15 > 0:15:19and so hardy, and I don't know whether you are the same.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21If you can withstand that,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25you can pretty much get through anything in life, can't you, really?
0:15:25 > 0:15:29And so I think it must have developed incredible resilience.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33David has given Anne a vivid insight into what her dad lived through
0:15:33 > 0:15:36as a child with TB in the 1930s.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40It's incredible to think how he dealt with his childhood disability
0:15:40 > 0:15:42with such positivity
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and Anne can finally understand where her dad's strength comes from,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and it's what's driving her to want to support somebody today.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54- You've been a gentleman, thanks so much.- You're welcome, sir.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55It's been good, hasn't it?
0:15:55 > 0:15:57It's been utterly fantastic, thanks so much.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- So how do you feel now? - Well, what an afternoon.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I'm deeply moved by having been here,
0:16:07 > 0:16:10very grateful, and it's just fantastic.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12It's a magical place, isn't it?
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Has it, in a way,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16reinforced the idea that you want to help other people?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Oh, yeah, this is just inspirational
0:16:18 > 0:16:20and if I can give something to somebody else
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- that will change their lives, I'd really love to.- Fantastic.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Thank you.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Coming here to North Wales and to the sanatorium,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36where her dad spent his early childhood,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38has really impacted on Anne.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Her dad's always been very guarded about his experiences here.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42For the first time,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46I feel that Anne has a clear idea of what he went through.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49This place, obviously, made him the man he is today.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Armed with a new knowledge of what life was like in a sanatorium
0:16:56 > 0:16:59has made Anne even more determined to want to help someone.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Coming up, we've been on the hunt for someone
0:17:03 > 0:17:07whose story will resonate with Anne and we think we've found them.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12She's an inspirational young girl whose childhood, like Anne's dad's,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15has been overshadowed by disability.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Her family thinks we're making a programme about children with disabilities.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25They have no idea the real reason behind Anne's visit -
0:17:25 > 0:17:29that they could be in for a life-changing gift from her.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Hello, girls. Hello, Harriet. I'm Anne, nice to meet you.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35So the big question is, how will they get on?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42But first, Anne wants to meet up with a key person
0:17:42 > 0:17:44who's inspiring her to give back.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Hi, Dad.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Hi, darling. You OK?
0:17:51 > 0:17:54- Yeah, yeah. - Good, good.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Anne is visiting her 90-year-old dad Norman
0:17:56 > 0:17:58at his residential home.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59She's hoping that, finally,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03he'll open up to her about his time in the sanatorium.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Look, Dad, thanks for doing this.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12I just want to talk a bit about yesterday when I went to Abergele,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15which I realised I'd never, ever done,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17even though we went to Wales quite a lot.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Do you remember very much about it?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23A considerable amount, in various ways.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28After learning about the types of treatment
0:18:28 > 0:18:30given to children at the sanatorium,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Anne now wants to know exactly what her dad went through.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35I was...
0:18:37 > 0:18:39..put on a frame.
0:18:39 > 0:18:44Your feet were actually bound and taped
0:18:44 > 0:18:47and threaded through the bottom of the ring,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and then it was tipped to an angle of 30, 40 degrees.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55The results of the frame did quite a lot of damage to...
0:18:57 > 0:19:00- ..the tops of both my feet... - Right.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03..because the actual strappings
0:19:03 > 0:19:06had bitten themselves into the flesh...
0:19:06 > 0:19:08- Gosh!- ..of my feet.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Did you have to go into plaster?
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Eventually, yes.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17So it must been quite frightening, all of that?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21But TB was just one life obstacle Norman had to deal with.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24His young life continued to be blighted by illness
0:19:24 > 0:19:27when he developed epilepsy when Anne was just four.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29The treatment he received was brutal.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34The way of treating it in those days
0:19:34 > 0:19:37was electric shock treatment through the head
0:19:37 > 0:19:40or possibly injections into the spine.
0:19:40 > 0:19:47- Right.- They tried for a long while to actually get into my spine,
0:19:47 > 0:19:53joining the lower regions of my spine
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and were not successful
0:19:55 > 0:19:57and gave it up eventually.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01But it wasn't just a fear of the extreme treatment
0:20:01 > 0:20:04that made the family keep his epilepsy a secret.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06It was also the social mind-set of the time.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11People didn't really talk about epilepsy then, did they?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14- No, not at all, no. - Is that your recollection of it?
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- Yes, very much so.- It was like something that you were ashamed of
0:20:17 > 0:20:18- or it was a stigma?- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Well, people used to think that people went mad.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Yes, it was associated with madness.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Because it's a shivery movement, you know?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29The whole body goes, I understand.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35It's only recently that attitudes towards epilepsy have changed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38For years, there was a huge stigma surrounding the condition,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42and many were left unemployed or sent to workhouses or asylums.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49In the late 19th century, as understanding of the illness grew,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53epileptic colonies were opened to offer employment and treatment.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Men worked the land and learned trades,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01while women did domestic chores in the home.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05But for Norman, having spent five years in a sanatorium as a child,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09the family lived in fear of him being sent to another institution,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13which explains why he wanted to keep his condition a secret.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Dealing with TB and dealing with epilepsy...
0:21:23 > 0:21:26..are two big barriers in life.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Well, yes, I suppose they are in some ways.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34All I can say is that you've got a very positive attitude
0:21:34 > 0:21:37to dealing with what many people would feel
0:21:37 > 0:21:40is huge adversity and a huge blow to life.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44The way you've dealt with those, I think, is truly inspirational
0:21:44 > 0:21:46and I think you should acknowledge that.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Well, if that's a help to anybody, I don't mind.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50It's been a great help to me.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I really was quite moved by talking to my father.
0:22:01 > 0:22:07I was moved by how much, in a way, he has
0:22:07 > 0:22:13affected me and my desire to want to help another.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16So I'm very motivated to help somebody else now.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Going back and understanding what her dad went through as a child
0:22:24 > 0:22:26has been emotional for Anne.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31You've only got to imagine my dad arriving here
0:22:31 > 0:22:34as a five-year-old little boy. It must have been...
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- So scary! - ..terrifying, don't you think?
0:22:38 > 0:22:43And she's finally discovered why his epilepsy was kept a family secret.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46People used to think that people went mad.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Yes, it was associated with madness.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Uncovering all this has helped focus her mind.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54This is just inspirational,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56and if I can give something to somebody else
0:22:56 > 0:22:59- that will change their lives, I'd really love to.- Fantastic.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07I think this has been a real revelation for Anne,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10learning about the treatment her father received at the sanatorium
0:23:10 > 0:23:14and the fear he must have felt about being sent back to an institution
0:23:14 > 0:23:16because of his epilepsy.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20It's no wonder his family kept his disabilities a secret.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Anne's father showed real courage trying to live
0:23:22 > 0:23:24as normal a life as possible.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26And it's this strength, I reckon,
0:23:26 > 0:23:29that's driving Anne on to want to give something back today.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Of course, there are many people
0:23:31 > 0:23:33who could benefit from Anne's generosity
0:23:33 > 0:23:35but we've found someone whose story, we think,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37will strike a chord with Anne.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41They are a family determined to live life regardless of their situation.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42They're a remarkable family.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47Hi, baby!
0:23:48 > 0:23:51In a Northamptonshire village lives Harriet,
0:23:51 > 0:23:55a severely disabled child who relies entirely on her mum, Jane,
0:23:55 > 0:24:00and sisters Sophie, 19, Chloe, 17, and Emmylou, who's nine.
0:24:05 > 0:24:0912-year-old Harriet has an extremely rare genetic disorder.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Although she has the mind of a 12-year-old,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15she's trapped in her body and unable to use her limbs,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17hold up her head or speak.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Just like Anne's dad,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Harriet's childhood has been overshadowed with disability,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28albeit on a much more severe scale.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34But while Anne's dad was sent away from his parents
0:24:34 > 0:24:36to an institution to be cared for,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Harriet is surrounded by a loving and inspirational family.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45And just like Anne's mum was a constant support
0:24:45 > 0:24:46to her disabled father,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Harriet's mum, Jane, is her family's rock.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55With these parallels, we've arranged for them to meet.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01It feels a bit strange, but I'm excited
0:25:01 > 0:25:05and I'm apprehensive, and I'm curious.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08And I hope it's going to be lovely to meet them.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12This is a hugely important meeting,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15which could transform this family's life.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Let's hope Anne feels a connection between them.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- Hi, Jane, I'm Anne. - Nice to meet you.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- Thank you for having us here. - That's all right, come in.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26Hi, girls. Hello.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Hello, Harriet, I'm Anne, nice to meet you.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34- This is Emmylou. - Nice to meet you, Emmylou, as well.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It's great to be here, thank you for having us.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Mum Jane thinks we're making a programme about children with disabilities.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Do you fancy a cup of tea?
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I'd love a cup of tea, Jane, thank you.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- We can sit in the garden, actually, and have a chat out there. - That would be delightful.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Do you want to carry on playing the computer?
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Jane has absolutely no idea
0:25:54 > 0:25:57that she could be in for a generous gift to help Harriet.
0:26:00 > 0:26:07So, you know, your life changed drastically then, 12, 13 years ago.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10So just tell me a little bit about that.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13So, Harriet was fine when she was born.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Normal baby, nothing wrong with her at all.
0:26:17 > 0:26:23And at nine months old, she developed a tremor
0:26:23 > 0:26:26and it didn't go away so we took her to the doctors.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28The GP, obviously, had a very good idea
0:26:28 > 0:26:30that it was something to do with the brain,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33because he spoke to the hospital immediately and got her straight in.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36They did CT scans and everything immediately.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38But, by the next day,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42her hand had actually set itself like that and didn't move again.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45- My goodness.- She came home after a couple of weeks,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48and literally 24 hours later, her other hand started doing that.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Oh...
0:26:50 > 0:26:52They could not find what it was that was causing it.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55They knew it was in the brain.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Doctors were completely baffled.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00But then, things took a devastating turn for the worse
0:27:00 > 0:27:01for little Harriet.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04She was crying a lot, she was very upset.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06She went to sleep and she woke up,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09and she was just completely paralysed.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Oh, my goodness. And that was just overnight?
0:27:12 > 0:27:13Yeah.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Within the space of a few hours,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19nine-month-old Harriet was struck down by this mysterious illness.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Jane's world was turned upside down.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26So, suddenly, she was like a newborn baby again -
0:27:26 > 0:27:29couldn't hold her head up, couldn't sit up, couldn't do anything.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30Didn't speak, she lost...
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Not that she could talk, obviously, but she was babbling, you know?
0:27:33 > 0:27:36And she couldn't do any of that at all.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Absolutely devastating, shock, and everything else.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44It took five years for Harriet to be finally diagnosed
0:27:44 > 0:27:46with a rare genetic disorder
0:27:46 > 0:27:50that's only been found in less than 50 other people in the world.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53But Harriet's family just try and get on with it
0:27:53 > 0:27:55and despite her severe disability,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Harriet is happy, extremely resilient,
0:27:59 > 0:28:01and adored by her sisters.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04She definitely has a personality.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Even though she doesn't speak, her personality definitely comes across.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13She's got a funny sense of humour.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- She's always smiling, which is amazing.- Yeah.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17We love her to pieces.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Harriet's sisters and Jane clearly worship her.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24But as she's unable to communicate,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28it can be challenging and heartbreaking at times.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32She's beautiful. She's a normal, little 12-year-old inside that head,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35stuck in a body that won't do as it's told.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38When she's upset, trying to work out what it is...
0:28:38 > 0:28:40- It's very difficult. - ..is it emotional?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Is it because her TV programme's finished or someone died in it?
0:28:43 > 0:28:44Is it because she's hurting?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46If she's hurting, where is she hurting?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Is it her stomach? It could be her shoe rubbing.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Because, before we know, we've gone through everything,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53taken her and got her ready for bed, and she's got a blister on her foot.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57And I feel, it makes me cry, because I'm thinking I've let her down,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00you know what I mean? And it's the stress and the worry of that.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03If she could just talk!
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Then... Oh, that sounds awful, doesn't it?
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Jane is a single mum who gave up full-time work
0:29:12 > 0:29:16as a company general manager to be Harriet's main carer.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21And she has a lot to contend with, hoisting Harriet in and out of bed,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23giving her medication through a stomach pump,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26feeding and changing her,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29but Jane just gets on with everything without complaining,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32earning massive respect from her daughters,
0:29:32 > 0:29:35just like Anne felt with her mother.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38There are so many things that she does for Harriet that
0:29:38 > 0:29:41no-one could ever dream of the amount of things that she does.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44All I do is make her laugh.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46That's our job, we make her laugh.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48She does so much on her own.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52With us three and Harriet, a fully dependent child,
0:29:52 > 0:29:54she just does so well.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58The way Jane and the girls cope with such adversity -
0:29:58 > 0:30:01and indeed, Harriet, who always has a smile on her face -
0:30:01 > 0:30:03is really resonating with Anne.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10The way you have responded to this, and your family, the girls,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12is incredibly inspiring, isn't it?
0:30:12 > 0:30:16I mean, you just seem to get on with it and deal with it.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18We don't have a choice.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21I mean, a lot of people say, "Jane, how do you deal with it?"
0:30:21 > 0:30:23I mean, you know...
0:30:23 > 0:30:25It's your daughter, you don't have a choice.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Anne's main focus now is to find out
0:30:29 > 0:30:31how she could help this inspirational family
0:30:31 > 0:30:33and make life easier for Harriet.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37So, Jane, with all that you contend with,
0:30:37 > 0:30:41what would make a difference to your lives, in fact?
0:30:41 > 0:30:43Both of you, and the family's?
0:30:43 > 0:30:46There's a lot of little, simple things that would make a difference.
0:30:46 > 0:30:47She's had this hip replacement
0:30:47 > 0:30:50and while she was in a lot of pain before she had it done,
0:30:50 > 0:30:51and while she was recovering,
0:30:51 > 0:30:54the school very kindly lent us this chair.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56It's on wheels, it's got a base
0:30:56 > 0:31:00and this big beanbag that you position her into.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Sadly, they were only able to borrow the special chair for a few weeks.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08They can't afford to buy one themselves,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10but it would make all the difference to Harriet.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14So she can be comfy, we can strap her in, she's safe,
0:31:14 > 0:31:15and we can wheel her around.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17And she can be in the lounge with us,
0:31:17 > 0:31:19instead of being in a rigid chair.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- So she'd have her wheelchair as well.- Yeah.
0:31:23 > 0:31:24It's just like a chair.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26It's ideal for someone like Harriet.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28Yeah, yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33The way Jane and her family deal with Harriet's disability
0:31:33 > 0:31:35has had a big impact on Anne
0:31:35 > 0:31:39and this meeting has been pivotal in her desire to give something back.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Jane, thanks so much, it's been so lovely to meet you.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44Lovely to meet you too.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47It's always nice to have a chinwag.
0:31:47 > 0:31:51Well, indeed. Especially in the garden, when it's been so nice.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- Take care then. - Lovely to meet you, bye, Anne.- Bye.
0:31:59 > 0:32:04I was very moved by Jane's tenacity...
0:32:04 > 0:32:12and it reminded me of my own mother, who also was a feisty fighter...
0:32:13 > 0:32:17..and didn't let things get her down.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20She could keep things going for the family
0:32:20 > 0:32:24and that, very much, is how Jane is.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26She, clearly, is devoted,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29as you would be, to all her children
0:32:29 > 0:32:32and she's devoted to Harriet's care
0:32:32 > 0:32:36and I find that profoundly moving and inspirational.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Anne's obviously been hugely moved meeting Jane
0:32:41 > 0:32:43and hearing all about Harriet
0:32:43 > 0:32:46and how the family have coped looking after her.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48But before making up her mind whether she can help them,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Anne's going to discuss this important decision
0:32:51 > 0:32:53with one of her oldest friends.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57Michael, I've been on such a journey,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59I've got to tell you.
0:32:59 > 0:33:05It started on Sunday, when I went back to Abergele, in North Wales,
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- where my father had been with his TB for five years.- OK.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13So I've been uncovering a little bit of the origins
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- of some of his disabilities and difficulties.- Right, OK.
0:33:16 > 0:33:23Then, I've just come from meeting Jane and her daughter Harriet
0:33:23 > 0:33:27and Harriet's sisters, one of Harriet's sisters,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32and their story is very similar, in some ways, as a family...
0:33:32 > 0:33:36to what I experienced.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38So there's a resonance there?
0:33:38 > 0:33:43Well, there is, and it has been interesting to watch how Jane,
0:33:43 > 0:33:49as the mum in this family, has dealt with disability
0:33:49 > 0:33:52and it kind of reminds me of my mum
0:33:52 > 0:33:56and how she coped with things when my father got disabled,
0:33:56 > 0:34:01as well as, of course, how my dad, as a disabled person,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03also deals with things now.
0:34:03 > 0:34:08He's incredibly resilient, and this young 12-year-old, Harriet,
0:34:08 > 0:34:12who I've met today, is also a very spirited and resilient person.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Gosh. How interesting!
0:34:15 > 0:34:18- Tell me more, tell me more. - It has been fascinating.
0:34:18 > 0:34:19Well, this is it.
0:34:19 > 0:34:26The next step now is that Jane and Harriet
0:34:26 > 0:34:29are really, very much,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33in need of just a few things that would make their lives a lot easier.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37I was just wondering what you thought, really?
0:34:37 > 0:34:40You've actually been through the same process
0:34:40 > 0:34:41in your life, haven't you?
0:34:41 > 0:34:44And I can certainly see that helping an individual,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46well, I think it would be fantastic!
0:34:46 > 0:34:49I want to do this, there's no doubt about it.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50If you can do it, do it.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52- All right? - Thank you.
0:34:52 > 0:34:53THEY CHUCKLE
0:34:54 > 0:34:56Having Michael's support and knowing dad Norman
0:34:56 > 0:35:00has also given his blessing are crucial for Anne.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02By introducing her to Jane and Harriet,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05we've found a family that have been facing adversity
0:35:05 > 0:35:07like she and her family experienced.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10We've gone back - now Anne needs to move forward.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12She has a hugely important decision to make -
0:35:12 > 0:35:15how can she help make life easier for Harriet?
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It's the last thing left for her to do.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32It's been a week since Anne and I visited North Wales,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35and during that time, she's met up with Harriet and her family.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38It must have been like looking in the mirror for Anne,
0:35:38 > 0:35:40seeing how determined Harriet and her family are
0:35:40 > 0:35:44to just get on with it and live as normal a life as possible.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46It must have really resonated with Anne.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49After all, that's what her own father wanted.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51Shall we find out how she's feeling
0:35:51 > 0:35:53and ask her the million-dollar question -
0:35:53 > 0:35:55is she ready to change someone's life?
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Anne's waiting for me around the corner from where Jane,
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Harriet and her sisters are enjoying a picnic.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Time to find out exactly what Anne's decided.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10- Hey, Anne, how lovely to see you. - Hi! Good to see you.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12- How are you?- I'm very well, thanks. - You got the teas in as well!
0:36:12 > 0:36:14- I have indeed, yes. - Thank you very much.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17So, you've seen Harriet and her family, haven't you?
0:36:17 > 0:36:19I have. I've met Jane and Harriet and her sisters.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21- How did it go? - It was fabulous.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24It was really, really good. Very inspiring and very moving.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Have you decided what you're going to do?
0:36:27 > 0:36:29- I have. - Go on, tell me!
0:36:29 > 0:36:32I won't keep you in suspense any longer then.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35What will make Harriet's life a lot easier
0:36:35 > 0:36:38is if she has one of these special seats.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40- Wow.- It looks like a sort of padded beanbag,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44but it's actually on wheels, moves around the sitting room
0:36:44 > 0:36:48and, principally, what it does is it helps cushion her,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50so that as she's moving around,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52her head can be held, she can be very comfy.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Got you. Yeah, it looks very comfortable.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58And I suppose this will include her in the family?
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Precisely. I mean, she wants to be able to sit
0:37:00 > 0:37:02with the family and watch TV.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04It's a small thing to give, isn't it, really,
0:37:04 > 0:37:05to make that possible.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07How much does it cost?
0:37:07 > 0:37:09It costs £1,900.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- Wow.- Specialist piece of kit, you see.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14That's a huge amount of money.
0:37:15 > 0:37:21It is a lot of money but it will, I think, make a huge difference...
0:37:21 > 0:37:25because, at the moment, Harriet is stuck in a wheelchair all the time
0:37:25 > 0:37:30and if she gets out of that, she has to go and sit on the sofa,
0:37:30 > 0:37:32the sofa can't hold her up properly -
0:37:32 > 0:37:35this will just make it comfy, safe and stable.
0:37:35 > 0:37:36Well, that's very, very kind of you.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38I've got a letter,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41and this tells Jane and Harriet what I'm going to do.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42I can't wait to see their faces.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44It's going to make a big difference to her life, isn't it?
0:37:44 > 0:37:47- Do you think so?- And not just hers, but, as you say, Jane,
0:37:47 > 0:37:48and all the other kids.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50I know they're having a picnic around the corner.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52- Shall we go and surprise them? - Why not?
0:37:52 > 0:37:53- Come on, let's go. - Thank you.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58It's the big moment -
0:37:58 > 0:38:02owning up to Jane, Harriet and her family what we've really been up to,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05and discovering how Harriet's life is going to change.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08So, just how are they going to react to all this?
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Listen, Anne, they're having a picnic just over there.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14They have no idea that we're here, OK?
0:38:14 > 0:38:18- How are you feeling? - Excited, nervous
0:38:18 > 0:38:20but I think it's going to be a great surprise.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22- It is, isn't it? Come on, let's go for it.- I can't wait!
0:38:23 > 0:38:26Right. Are you ready?
0:38:26 > 0:38:27Here we go!
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- Hello. - Hello.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33How are you? Hi, I'm Aled Jones...
0:38:33 > 0:38:34I know, I recognise you!
0:38:34 > 0:38:37..from the BBC. Nice to see you.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39- Hello!- Hello!- Nice to see you!
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Lovely to see you again, Jane.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45You haven't met my oldest two, this is Chloe and Sophie.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48You thought we were doing a programme
0:38:48 > 0:38:52- just about children and disability, didn't you?- Yeah.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Well, it's not the full story, is it?
0:38:55 > 0:39:00- I've got make-up on, don't make me cry, OK?- Oh, Jane!
0:39:00 > 0:39:02It was so lovely to meet you two
0:39:02 > 0:39:05and I just wanted to bring you this letter today.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09It's for you. I just wondered if you might open it,
0:39:09 > 0:39:12and if you would read it out to us?
0:39:14 > 0:39:17"Dear Jane, it was lovely to meet you and your girls this week.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19"Thank you so much having us in your home
0:39:19 > 0:39:22"and also for telling me about Harriet's condition
0:39:22 > 0:39:24"and the way you have dealt with it.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27"I wanted you to know how moved I was by the cheerful
0:39:27 > 0:39:32"and determined way you and your family manage Harriet's disability.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34"It is both humbling and amazing."
0:39:34 > 0:39:36HARRIET LAUGHS
0:39:37 > 0:39:39She just laughs at everything!
0:39:39 > 0:39:41"And inspired, no doubt,
0:39:41 > 0:39:46"by Harriet's own resilience, spirit and sense of humour.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49"As I mentioned to you, my own father is disabled.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51"The way in which you and Harriet cope
0:39:51 > 0:39:53"with what life has thrown at you
0:39:53 > 0:39:57"reminds me of the way my own parents dealt with things.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59"When we met, you told me there was one thing
0:39:59 > 0:40:02"that could make Harriet's life a little bit more comfortable.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05"Therefore I'd like to offer to pay
0:40:05 > 0:40:09"£1,900 for the special seat you need for Harriet.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12"If I could help you in this way,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14"it would give me an opportunity
0:40:14 > 0:40:16"to make a small difference in your life.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19"I hope you will accept my gift. Best wishes, Anne."
0:40:19 > 0:40:22You're just laughing because I'm crying!
0:40:22 > 0:40:24I hope you will accept it.
0:40:24 > 0:40:25We're all crying!
0:40:27 > 0:40:30- It's a lovely thing, isn't it? - Thank you so much!
0:40:30 > 0:40:32It's a great pleasure.
0:40:34 > 0:40:35Sorry to surprise you.
0:40:35 > 0:40:36Sorry, sorry!
0:40:38 > 0:40:40What difference is that going to make for you?
0:40:40 > 0:40:43It's going to make life so much easier. She loved having it.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45- I don't know if you've seen it? - I have, yeah.- You've seen it?
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- Yes, I've shown him some pictures. - It's fantastic.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51And she was so comfortable in it, weren't you, Harriet?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54It means she's got her own armchair-type thing in the lounge,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and it can be wheeled about, can't it?
0:40:57 > 0:40:58Aw, you're so excited!
0:40:58 > 0:41:00THEY CHUCKLE
0:41:00 > 0:41:02And so you can watch TV together and everything else?
0:41:02 > 0:41:04It's like she's got her own chair in the lounge,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06because she has to sit in this...
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Well, we tried putting her on the sofa, she just can't...
0:41:10 > 0:41:12She just slides out and everything.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Well, listen, I'm glad that you're happy
0:41:15 > 0:41:17and I'm glad that you're happy as well.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18I'm so glad you're happy!
0:41:18 > 0:41:21We'll leave you to it, we don't want to spoil your picnic.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23- Very nice to see you.- Thank you, lovely to meet you, girls.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25And you enjoy your chair, OK?
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- Thank you.- All the best. - Lovely to meet you.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Nice to see you all. All the best.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32- Oh, sweetheart.- Thanks, Jane. We'll be in touch.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35We'll be in touch, and I'll stay in touch, yeah.
0:41:35 > 0:41:36- Don't worry.- Please do.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38Bye, Harriet.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39See you soon, darling.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42- Bye, girls. - Bye, guys.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- Lovely to see you.- Thank you, lovely to meet you, bye.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51THEY LAUGH
0:41:51 > 0:41:54My brain couldn't process everything that was going on at the time,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58because I'm here with the kids and it's very, very surreal.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59It was a surprise, yes!
0:42:01 > 0:42:02It felt great, actually.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05They clearly, clearly needed it.
0:42:05 > 0:42:06I'm very happy to give it
0:42:06 > 0:42:10and they were also surprised and pleased, I think, really,
0:42:10 > 0:42:15to get something for Harriet so I'm thrilled I did this.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17I'm so excited... It's lovely.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19It's really, really... For people...
0:42:19 > 0:42:20I mean, Anne...
0:42:20 > 0:42:22I mean, what can I say?
0:42:22 > 0:42:25Somebody that just does that for people,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27it's just amazing, it really is.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29It's amazing.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32It's just going to make such a difference.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36It's been an absolutely fantastic experience to go on this journey.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40I've learned a lot, I've met so many interesting people,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43and it's ended here with Harriet and Jane,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46and I'm able to do something for Harriet which is just terrific.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Seeing Harriet's, Jane and the girls' reaction
0:42:56 > 0:42:59to Anne's generosity was something so special, wasn't it?
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Much like Anne's own family,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03they've shown great courage and resilience over the years
0:43:03 > 0:43:06and now, life's got a little bit easier for all of them,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09especially Harriet. And, boy, does she deserve it.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12What an inspirational and uplifting end to the programme.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15And the great news is, since we met Harriet,
0:43:15 > 0:43:17her special chair has now arrived,
0:43:17 > 0:43:19and she's a very happy girl.