0:00:04 > 0:00:07I'm Jazz and I'm 16. This is my mum, Bev, and my dad, Paul.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11We live in Colwyn Bay in Wales, but we're not a typical family.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14"..your dysfunctional Mummy and Daddy"!
0:00:15 > 0:00:19Dad used to be a homeless drug addict, so I grew up without him.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24But now he's off heroin, I've let him back into my life.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25You are trying so hard.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28I'm just so proud of you.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31'I'm getting on with Dad really well...and so is Mum.'
0:00:31 > 0:00:35'I can't sit here and pretend there's no feelings developing,'
0:00:35 > 0:00:37because they are.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40And it's not just Mum who's falling for someone.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44- How are you, darling? - Much better now.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48'Having a boyfriend is not the only step I'm taking into adulthood.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49'I'm going to learn to drive.'
0:00:49 > 0:00:53So release the footbrake, and then you need to use the gas.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54Oh, God, oh, God!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59But right now, the most important thing
0:00:59 > 0:01:03is that my granddad is facing the fight of his life,
0:01:03 > 0:01:04and I'm terrified he won't make it.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06He has been like my dad,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10I can't imagine life without him and I don't even want to think about it.
0:01:10 > 0:01:17So this is me - a small teen trying to make my way in a big world.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34'Even though I'm only 16 and just 3ft 11 inches tall,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'I've already left home to study animal care at college.'
0:01:37 > 0:01:42They're both really clean. Not too warm, either.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52I live on campus, but come home most weekends to spend time with my mum.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Remember this time about a year ago, when you were going to America,
0:01:56 > 0:02:00and you were going, "Oh, I'd love to, like, go out with somebody"?
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Is there anyone you like around the bay or...?
0:02:03 > 0:02:07- That is for me to know and you not to know.- And me to find out.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11- So...- No, you're not going to find out, you're not going to find out.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15When it comes to, sort of, confiding in my mum, telling her things,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19I tell her anything about my friends, anything about me,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22but boyfriends, no, no, no, no.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27- Why don't you talk to me about it? - Because, ask any teenager...
0:02:27 > 0:02:31- I won't talk to them and go, "My daughter fancies you". - No, but you would,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34- that's the sort of thing you'd do! - I wouldn't.- You would.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39There's so many young lads who think you're gorgeous and can't...
0:02:39 > 0:02:43They see past this... So, what, she's a bit smaller than everyone else?
0:02:43 > 0:02:47And they just think, "I'd love to go out with a girl like her".
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Because when I was your age, I always thought, "Oh, God, no-one will want me",
0:02:51 > 0:02:55because some people just won't consider ya as a girlfriend, just...
0:02:55 > 0:02:58just because you're not the right height.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- Oh, my eyes are really bad, I'm sorry...- Right,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- leave that a minute and wash your hands.- I can't see...
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- Jazz, that's a full onion. - Yeah, I like onion.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10- Why so much onion? - Because you're not cooking it, I am.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Because if you have onion breath like that...
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Go like that...
0:03:17 > 0:03:20no-one will want to kiss you like that...
0:03:20 > 0:03:22Mum, that's enough!
0:03:29 > 0:03:32I've told Mum I've been chatting online with a friend of a friend,
0:03:32 > 0:03:37but what I haven't told her is that I think I'm falling for this guy.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40But he lives miles away in Liverpool.
0:03:40 > 0:03:46Levi is sweetest, most thoughtful person I've ever met.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50He'll say nice things to me just because, to make me feel good.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51And that's what I love.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56Originally, we just started talking about the usual stuff that teenagers do,
0:03:56 > 0:04:00just about music, and what our interests are,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02and it just spiralled into,
0:04:02 > 0:04:08"So, do you want me to come down there?" And it all went from there.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Levi's my first proper boyfriend. It's all new and very exciting.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Erm, and it's great, it feels really good.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21# Oh her eyes, her eyes
0:04:21 > 0:04:24# Make the stars look like they're not shining... #
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Jazz is just like any ordinary teenager of our age.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Just bubbly and a bit loopy, but I love her for what she is.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35I just like Jazz's quirkiness, and she's really pretty.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40She's got a boyfriend. You know, and I'm so like,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42you know, like ringing up, going,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46"They're holding hands", you know, and my mum's going, "Oh!"
0:04:51 > 0:04:55It was such a relief - she's going to go through her life now thinking,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57"I don't have to restrict myself.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00"Somebody would be lucky to go out with me".
0:05:00 > 0:05:04I think she's beginning to realise that, "YOU were lucky to be my boyfriend".
0:05:04 > 0:05:08# Just the way you are... #
0:05:08 > 0:05:12You would not have believed in the last 12 months
0:05:12 > 0:05:14how she's progressed
0:05:14 > 0:05:19and got so much confidence since Levi came in the picture.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22How she's changed so much for the better.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29'Levi's average height
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'and I was really worried about how it was going to work.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37'Is it awkward, how's he going to react to people saying horrible things to him,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40'and he's been great.'
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Most people are just intrigued about it,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47because it is something different from the norm.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50No-one's been nasty, just, like, all been asking questions.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55I think it's just something that's intriguing to a lot of the people
0:05:55 > 0:05:59and I'm not, like, shallow-minded enough to let her condition bother me.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04He's actually put on Facebook, "I am proud to walk down the street with my girl.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07"I look at my girl and think, wow, that's my girl".
0:06:07 > 0:06:10And he put it up for everybody to see...
0:06:12 > 0:06:14I love her too.
0:06:14 > 0:06:20He's taller than me, but I'll still beat him at billiards when we get the chance to go!
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Well, I've been seeing Jazz now for about a month,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29I don't get to see her that often, only at the weekends.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32It is hard, but I like how it is.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I'd just like to buy some flowers for my girlfriend, please.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40'I'm going to get Jazz some flowers.'
0:06:40 > 0:06:42I can't wait to see the look on her face.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45So why are you buying the flowers? Anything special coming up?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Or just cos you haven't seen her for a while?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51I just want it to be a nice surprise for her.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- Is it a long time since you saw her last?- Um, a week.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57A long time!
0:06:58 > 0:07:01She's never had anything like this before.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06When she sees you with those flowers, my goodness gracious, will she be...
0:07:06 > 0:07:09she'll be absolutely gobsmacked.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13I never would have thought I'd be stood with her boyfriend
0:07:13 > 0:07:17waiting for flowers for her, so it's good for me as well, you know?
0:07:17 > 0:07:22To see this happening to her. Jazz will be absolutely over the moon.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23- I hope so.- She really will be.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Is that OK? - Yeah, they're lovely, thanks.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Fabulous range of colours, aren't they?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. - Yeah, amazing.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Thanks for that.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Getting really nervous now.- Nervous?
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Well, I'm getting even more excited. But we've only got 15 minutes to go.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45I know!
0:07:49 > 0:07:54'It's not just me who's got a new interest in the opposite sex.'
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Right, random plate check.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58'Dad comes over every day to look after Mum
0:07:58 > 0:08:01'because she has a lung condition and needs to rest.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06'It's great he helps us so much, but when they start flirting with each other,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08'it gets really embarrassing.'
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- Oh, dear, what's that? - It's a bit wet.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13You've got a wet patch, haven't you? You've wet yourself.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18'It's a bit awkward, we've been thrown together, in a way. Our sense of humour brings us together.'
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I started to remember why I was with him.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26When Num and Dad got together almost two decades ago,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29they were in love and made each other laugh.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33But then Dad's drug habit got in the way.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38Now he's on a methadone programme, they seem to be picking up where they last left off.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42If you were wearing a pinny, like I suggested...
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- I don't think so.- Well, we'll see.- We'll see!
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Remember when you first was here, "I'm not doing this,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51"and I'm not wearing gloves, I don't need to wear thermal underwear
0:08:51 > 0:08:55"and I don't need to wear this, that and the other..."
0:08:55 > 0:08:59And NOW look at you. I'm watching football and what are you doing?
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- What are you doing?- Washing pots.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- Right, so, what'll you be doing next week? Wearing a pinny.- No!
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Yes, you will.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11I can't pretend there's no feelings developing. And it's awful because they are.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14- I'm not wearing a pinny.- Right, OK!
0:09:14 > 0:09:16I've tried it once and it doesn't suit me.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19What do you mean, you've tried it?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- You wore a pinny in this house when nobody was in?- Yeah.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Oh, I'm locking the cupboards up.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I'm not coming in one day and you're there in one of me tops...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30THEY LAUGH ..or me underwear!
0:09:30 > 0:09:34- Oh, no that won't happen.- Why, will you wait till the doors locked?!
0:09:34 > 0:09:36- Yeah! - THEY LAUGH
0:09:36 > 0:09:39'When we're together, we have a laugh.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:43If she wants me to do something, she'll make sure I have to do it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45Right, let's check your list.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- Have we done dogs?- Yeah.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55'I know I'm really hard to live with. Incredibly hard.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57'And Jazz said one day -'
0:09:57 > 0:10:03because I said sometimes I do feel like I love him again, and sometimes I absolutely don't, you know,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06because I can't forgive and forget -
0:10:06 > 0:10:10and she said, "Well, let's be honest Mum, who else is going to put up with you?"
0:10:10 > 0:10:14'He seems to cope somehow. And then she looked at her dad,'
0:10:14 > 0:10:20and he was like laughing, dead cocky, and they went, "And YOU? Really?!"
0:10:20 > 0:10:25So you've got three minutes of your own television time today.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I'll choose it now while the football's on.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31I think I'd be fine if Mum and Dad, you know, got back together,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34I wouldn't be bothered either way, to be honest.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38I know, like, some kids want their mums and dads to get back together,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42but as long as they're happy, I'm not bothered, because I'm not there.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46So I can't really say, "Do this, do that, do the other".
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Whatever makes them happy.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55I'm nearly packed and ready to go home for the weekend.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Granddad should be here any minute.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02You go and give her the surprise.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Levi has only been dating her for month,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07but we've got to know him
0:11:07 > 0:11:10and he's really a super lad.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13She couldn't have met a nicer chap, and, er, she's,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16er, so excited. It's her first boyfriend,
0:11:16 > 0:11:21and you can just imagine the surprise and the feeling she's got right now
0:11:21 > 0:11:24not thinking she's going to see him for the weekend.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28I can imagine her world is, er, right at the top of the tree.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32# It's a little bit funny
0:11:32 > 0:11:35# This feeling inside... #
0:11:35 > 0:11:39I just think she'll be really surprised, cos... at the end of the day,
0:11:39 > 0:11:40I haven't told her I'm coming
0:11:40 > 0:11:44and I'll be the last person she'll be expecting to see walk through the door.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49# What I really mean... #
0:11:50 > 0:11:52KNOCK ON DOOR
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Come in.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- Oh...!- Hi...- Hello!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06How are you, darling?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Much better now.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15I was really surprised and...
0:12:16 > 0:12:19..shocked in a good way, like, wow,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22somebody actually wanted to do that for me.
0:12:22 > 0:12:29# How wonderful life is Now you're in the world... #
0:12:29 > 0:12:33I'm not even going to try hold them, because they're bigger than me!
0:12:33 > 0:12:35'I didn't know what to say, how to act
0:12:35 > 0:12:40'because no-one's ever done something that amazing before.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42'It was just really thoughtful.'
0:12:42 > 0:12:46I've never had flowers from anyone as special as you, definitely not.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48They are lovely.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51'It feels really, like, flattering
0:12:51 > 0:12:54'to be sort of fancied and liked
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'and wanted to be with.'
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- I'm so glad to see ya. - I'm made up to see you, too.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05I'm just so glad you're here, I thought I wasn't going to see you for two weeks.
0:13:05 > 0:13:11# ..I put down in words... #
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- I do feel so much better now. - Oh, good.
0:13:16 > 0:13:23# How wonderful life is Now you're in the world. #
0:13:29 > 0:13:33'But Levi's not the only new man in my life.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36'I've recently met my half-brother, Alan.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42'Before my dad got together with my mum, he already had children with a previous girlfriend.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:46- Oh, my goodness gracious! - I want to see.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50I'll show you on the television in a minute, you dirty monkey.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53'I grew up as an only child, and used to wish I had a brother.
0:13:53 > 0:14:00Little did I know I DID have one, but he was miles away in Stockport, near Manchester.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Alan was three when I was born, and we never met when we were kids.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- Not much luck on here... - Just sort of nudge it a bit.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16I really, really get on with him, there's just something that I just absolutely adore about him.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Hey, you better not be wasting my money!
0:14:19 > 0:14:23You've got about 10p back, you put a pound in already!
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Oh, Jazz, she's great, she's just funny all the time.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30She's well spoken, she's a lovely girl to get on with.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38I've been here loads of times, never been in the snow, though.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Me, Alan and Dad have been spending more time together since our first meeting.
0:14:45 > 0:14:52All those years of living on the streets as a drug addict means Dad's got a lot of catching up to do.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Why is it eating their feet?
0:14:54 > 0:14:59I don't know, that must be the most munchiest bit of it!
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Well, this is a really good chance for me to get to know me dad.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06He's treating us all the same. He texts me every night saying,
0:15:06 > 0:15:07he can't wait for me to come back.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It's like he's a total different person now, yeah.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15- Have you got any otter's at college, Jazz?- No, thankfully not.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17What's that, a butty on you?
0:15:17 > 0:15:19That's just in case he fancied a chip butty.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26I've got everybody's interests at heart, Bev's, Jazz's, me son Alan.
0:15:26 > 0:15:33If I mess up then people are going to think, "Told you so, we knew."
0:15:33 > 0:15:36That's just nasty, isn't it?
0:15:36 > 0:15:38But it's his nature, he's got to eat, hasn't he?
0:15:38 > 0:15:42They gel really well, the pair of them. They love each other to bits.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47I do feel like I'm part of a family, yeah. And I love it.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52I love my life right at this minute. I love being where I am.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56How uncouth, eating on a stone.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Tramp.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01You wouldn't catch me doing that.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Hello, Jazz.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12'It's Sunday night and I've come to my grandparents' house,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15'they're going to take me back to college.'
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Finish that and I'll just go and get your, you know, stuff.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Your bits of stuff.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26Nana and Granddad really spoil me.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28I don't know what I'd do without them.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- Jazzy?- Yeah.- Come and see if you want anything out of me oven.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33OK.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36'Nana hides a secret stash of goodies in her spare oven.'
0:16:38 > 0:16:43- I've put you some tuck biscuits in.- Oh, brilliant.- Some cheeses.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Do you want these to take with you?
0:16:47 > 0:16:52No, please! No sweets. I'll eat them all for myself.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Anything else you need to take? - No, don't think so.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57- You got enough this week?- Yeah, I've got a bit already...
0:16:57 > 0:17:00- Have you got biscuits?- Yep. - Sure?- Got loads.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02- OK, so there's nothing else you need?- No.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- What about minerals? - No, Nana.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08JAZZ LAUGHS
0:17:08 > 0:17:10'That's Nana being Nana.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But I'm worried about Granddad, he's not been himself lately.'
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Do you want me to put these in the boot?
0:17:16 > 0:17:21'He's been getting more and more ill, he got paler, he got more tired,
0:17:21 > 0:17:25'he didn't want to do anything all day, if he did any exercise
0:17:25 > 0:17:29'he'd be out of breath and he was always complaining of stomach ache.'
0:17:29 > 0:17:32He was always, you know, rubbing his stomach and holding his stomach.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- Have you got everything? - Yep.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Granddad's been to the doctors to have some tests
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and we're hoping it's nothing serious.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54A few days later, Granddad got his results back.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55It wasn't good news.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02The doctor came to me and told me, "I'm sorry to tell you this
0:18:02 > 0:18:07"but you've got a malignant tumourous cancer in the bowel."
0:18:07 > 0:18:12When you think about that, you've just been put on death row.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18I just looked at my mum and looked at my dad and their faces just...
0:18:18 > 0:18:19..they were blown away.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25There was nothing I could do to protect them from that
0:18:25 > 0:18:29and, you know, er, my mum was white
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and, erm, my dad was sort of tearful
0:18:34 > 0:18:38and said, "Oh, I thought it'd just be a few tablets and it'd go away."
0:18:44 > 0:18:46It was quite a blow,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and it was a blow for Margaret and a blow for Beverley.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51You know they were both extremely upset.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53The rest of the family were upset too.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56I don't want to lose him.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Cos he's loved me from the minute I was born.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05He's done...unconditionally given and done everything.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09More than any other dad, or granddad could ever do.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11And he's been Jasmine's dad.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17He's always been there. Every time I've had a problem, I've called him.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22And I can't imagine life without him and I don't even want to think about it.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27I'm terrified to be honest. I don't know what's going to happen.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34In just a week from now, Granddad needs to have an operation
0:19:34 > 0:19:35to remove the tumour.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41It's usually Granddad taking Mum to hospital
0:19:41 > 0:19:43rather than the other way round,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47because, from the age of four, Mum's been considered a medical mystery.
0:19:49 > 0:19:54Until Mum was born, no-one in our family had restricted growth
0:19:54 > 0:19:58and for the first four years of her life, no-one noticed mum was different.
0:19:58 > 0:20:04We didn't realise there was anything till I had Shelley.
0:20:05 > 0:20:11And as Shelley started to grow then we realised Beverley wasn't.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18'Mum is the middle child. Her brother, Gary, is 18 months older
0:20:18 > 0:20:22'and her sister, Shelley, is a couple of years younger.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27'By the time Mum was four, Shelley was taller, even though she was only two.'
0:20:27 > 0:20:30She started having problems with breathing
0:20:30 > 0:20:34and always having colds and things like that.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36We had to take her into the hospital.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38And the lady doctor came to us and said,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- "I think we've got your age wrong." - That's right, yeah.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45And we said, "No, that's her age," and she said, "She's rather small."
0:20:45 > 0:20:47She said, "Well, we know she's petite,"
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and she said, "She's unusually small."
0:20:50 > 0:20:54She said, "Would you like to go and see this professor in Macclesfield hospital?"
0:21:00 > 0:21:04'What followed were endless doctor's appointments to try to find out
0:21:04 > 0:21:08'why Mum wasn't growing and maybe find a cure.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13'In those days being small was seen as a problem that needed to be fixed.'
0:21:13 > 0:21:19Every time they went, me mum and dad, they were never given any answers.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22But there was a lot of family pressure. What's the matter with her?
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Why isn't she breathing properly? Why isn't she growing?
0:21:26 > 0:21:29And you know when you go to relatives at Christmas?
0:21:29 > 0:21:30Then they'd go, "Oh!"
0:21:30 > 0:21:33and they'd say to the other kids, "Oh, haven't they grown?"
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And me, they'd be like, "How's things about Bev?" "Don't know."
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Even though we knew she was going to be small,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45we didn't think she would never grow.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47We just thought it was going to take time
0:21:47 > 0:21:51and there would be something that would help her to grow
0:21:51 > 0:21:54and that is why I decided that we would have every test done.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00'By doing many tests, including skin grafts,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03'doctors tried to find out why my mum was small,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05'how her body was working,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08'and if there was anything that could be done to make her grow.'
0:22:09 > 0:22:12The tests I had, looking back,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16were the kind of tests that you do on people to torture them.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Mum and Dad weren't allowed in with me.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22But one time they said "We're going to cut some skin."
0:22:22 > 0:22:26So I had a local anaesthetic and they were pinning me down
0:22:26 > 0:22:29and they cut a piece of skin right through every layer
0:22:29 > 0:22:31from the back of my leg.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35The most painful memory I've got,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37they took me into this children's ward,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41they stripped me to my knickers and put me next to a boy of 11.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And I was 11. I was mortified.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50I've never been so embarrassed in my life.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52The painful tests Mum was put through
0:22:52 > 0:22:55also had an impact on the rest of the family.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57It affected the other two
0:22:57 > 0:23:00and it affected Shelley more than it affected Gary
0:23:00 > 0:23:04because Shelley thought, well... She was being special.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06She was getting all this attention.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12I pretended I was deaf so that I could get a hearing aid,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15I pretended I couldn't see so I could get glasses.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19Just so I could get some of the same kind of attention, of course.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22I was hugely jealous.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24But all the tests turned out to be pointless.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29The doctors told Nan and Granddad my mum had a very rare form of restricted growth
0:23:29 > 0:23:31and there was nothing anyone could do to change that.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Mum will always be small.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Me mum still thinks she's to blame.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43When I talk to her about it, she could find it very hard to talk about.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I'll say to her, "Why do you blame yourself?" "Well, I made you."
0:23:50 > 0:23:53My mum was dealt a card back then.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58She had this child and she didn't know what to do, she had no support,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01a family who didn't know what to do about it and nobody in the neighbourhood.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05And so I believe she did the absolute correct thing that she needed to do,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09which was bring Bev up the best way she could have done,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11which was from her heart.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13The doctors also told my grandparents
0:24:13 > 0:24:15my mum wouldn't be able to have children
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and everyone believed them...
0:24:17 > 0:24:19'..until I decided to come along.'
0:24:19 > 0:24:22When I was pregnant I was really, like, shocked.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Thinking, how could my little tubes, get, you know,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27the little sperms go up into my little tiny tubes?
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Wouldn't they get blocked?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32You know, how naive is that?
0:24:36 > 0:24:40When I was born, Mum was 30, and she decided I'd never go through
0:24:40 > 0:24:42what she went through to find out why I was small.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47When Jasmine came along, we were totally in agreement with Beverley,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49because we'd gone through it all with Bev,
0:24:49 > 0:24:55and there wasn't any necessity to go and see about growth.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58It just wasn't on the cards at all.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01It was totally accepted that what she was like
0:25:01 > 0:25:04is what we wanted, you know, and that was it.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07I don't think I can ever appreciate
0:25:07 > 0:25:11what it must've been like for Mum and Dad. They tried to bring me up
0:25:11 > 0:25:14the same as Shelley and my brother and my sister
0:25:14 > 0:25:18and make me quite independent, which is why I'm independent now
0:25:18 > 0:25:20and which is why Jazz is.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22And I owe them...
0:25:24 > 0:25:25So much.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Never pay it back.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35No matter what happens to the Burkitt family,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38we always pull together.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45So in true Burkitt style, my Aunty Shelley and her two daughters
0:25:45 > 0:25:48are flying in from their home in America
0:25:48 > 0:25:52to help support Nan and Granddad whilst he tries to beat cancer.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- Do you want me to go on before she comes through here, yeah? - Can't wait.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58We're looking for American passports.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- Have you come from America?- Yeah. - Oh, have you? Coming through already?
0:26:01 > 0:26:06- Yeah.- Oh, brilliant, thanks. ..We're none too soon, then, are we?
0:26:06 > 0:26:12'I'm very lucky that Shelley has been able to come over from New York.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15'It's actually made it a delightful time, if you can say that.'
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Come on, Shelley, come on.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20'It will be just great to come out,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23'and I've got Shelley and the kids to look forward to.'
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I'm getting really excited now.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- How you feeling?- Fine. - I love you.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01I'm really excited but quite sad at the same time
0:27:01 > 0:27:04that I get to see my aunty and my cousins.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06It's not for a very good reason.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12'I am glad I could be here
0:27:12 > 0:27:15'at the time when they need me.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18'We're here to look after my dad,'
0:27:18 > 0:27:21because he's having a life- threatening surgery on Friday,
0:27:21 > 0:27:26and we have to...deal with it, all of us.
0:27:26 > 0:27:27Come on!
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Off we go.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44SCREAMS
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Hello!
0:27:45 > 0:27:48'Granddad's brought Aunty Shelley and my cousins
0:27:48 > 0:27:49'to see me at college.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52'Naomi is seven, and Sarah is five.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54'Family means everything to me.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57'They've been there when Mum's been in hospital,
0:27:57 > 0:28:03they're the ones that have supported me when I was bullied at school.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06'They're the ones that have encouraged me to come here.'
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- I'm so proud of you!- Oh!
0:28:08 > 0:28:09Come and see my room!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11'You can quite easily lose friends,
0:28:11 > 0:28:14'but your family are always there to support you.'
0:28:14 > 0:28:17If you've got no family, you've got nothing, really.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19- This is my room.- Look at it!
0:28:19 > 0:28:22It's a bit tidier than it is normally!
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Oh!
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Look at you!
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Yeah, all my stuff.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Wow!
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I'm so proud of you.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Oh, thank you.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36Are you dead happy?
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Yeah, I absolutely love it here.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Jazz seemed so calm and so...
0:28:42 > 0:28:43together
0:28:43 > 0:28:46'and so natural in that college.'
0:28:46 > 0:28:49This is where I work, every day.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52I always made the mistake, I think, of thinking of Bev
0:28:52 > 0:28:55and thinking of Jazz as the same person.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59'And I think, this time, I've seen something completely separate.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01'So I see Jazz in college'
0:29:01 > 0:29:05and I see a whole new young lady that I didn't know before.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08This is Max, the milk snake, he's lovely.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12- No - snake and lovely... - Yeah, he's actually really nice.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Not quite going in the same sentence!
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Here you go, ladies and gentlemen.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22'Tonight, we're having a meal to celebrate Shelley's arrival.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28'It's incredible for me to see my mum and Aunty Shelley together,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30'because now they spend so much time apart,
0:29:30 > 0:29:34'but they used to live in each other's pockets.'
0:29:38 > 0:29:41# Thank you for coming home
0:29:41 > 0:29:45# I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn... #
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Me and Shelley shared a bedroom.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51I would rather have slept in the shed than in the same room as my sister.
0:29:51 > 0:29:56She was untidy, she played the same records over and over again.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02# Gold! Never believe in...
0:30:02 > 0:30:06# It's impossible Gold! #
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- Oh! - # You're indestructible... #
0:30:09 > 0:30:14So we'd fight like cat and dog, but as we got older, we became friends.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18I remember being very angry at people who would tease her
0:30:18 > 0:30:21and I would stand up for her and say, "Hey, don't tease her."
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Because to me, she's my sister, and that's how she always was,
0:30:24 > 0:30:27and she's not different. She's Bev - that's how she is.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33When we got to 16, 17,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37we had a very difficult time, because suddenly she had boyfriends.
0:30:37 > 0:30:42She had a job, you know, a Saturday job,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44and she had this and that. I had nothing.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47But Mum did have something,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50because, at 20, she left home to go to university.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54In her mid-20s, Mum went to live on a kibbutz in Israel,
0:30:54 > 0:30:57and this time, Shelley followed her.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01Mum introduced her sister to her friend, Yariv.
0:31:01 > 0:31:02It was love at first sight,
0:31:02 > 0:31:06and within two years, Shelley and Yariv were married.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09This is my Aunty Shelley's wedding in Israel.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Six months earlier, Mum had met my dad in Manchester.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16It was a happy time for both sisters.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20But now, Aunty Shelley lives with my Uncle Yariv and their children
0:31:20 > 0:31:24in America...so our families are only reunited on special occasions.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27My sister...had moved...
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- Have you got another sister? - No, no!
0:31:30 > 0:31:32I would only want this one.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35It's just fantastic, all the girls together.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40It's just amazing and surprising that it was able to be achieved.
0:31:40 > 0:31:46He ordered a glass of red wine, "une glass", but he said "carafe"!
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- SHELLEY:- 'It's very rare that we're all together.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54'Whatever happens throughout our lives, we've never had a situation
0:31:54 > 0:31:58'where we're angry with each other, because as soon as we're together,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01'we start remembering all those hilarious things that happened.'
0:32:01 > 0:32:06Got up, apologised and fell over at the table...
0:32:06 > 0:32:10'And those fun times are what just pulls us through everything.'
0:32:10 > 0:32:13And it doesn't matter whatever happens around us,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16because those times are things that move us through life together.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20I can remember cruising round the village with you two,
0:32:20 > 0:32:21looking for the noisiest party.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24And you wouldn't go in the ones that were quiet.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29This evening has been tremendous. It's been the final boost for me.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33'We're all together. Now I can go forward with confidence'
0:32:33 > 0:32:36that everything is going to be all right.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40- To Shelley...- Yes.- ..for flying...
0:32:40 > 0:32:46- A long way.- A long, long way, to show her dad how much she loves him. - I do indeed. Cheers!
0:32:57 > 0:33:02Tomorrow, Granddad's having an operation to remove his cancerous tumour.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06- Hello, Mr Burkitt, you all right there?- Yes, thank you.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- All right if I take your blood pressure?- You can indeed.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Just pop this on your arm.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Just check your temperature as well.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21That's fine. SATS are 100%.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23Oh, 100%. Wonderful stuff.
0:33:23 > 0:33:24Excellent.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27'I'm actually looking forward to this operation tomorrow.'
0:33:27 > 0:33:32This will mean that that deadly thing inside me is...is going out,
0:33:32 > 0:33:35and I've got a second chance of life.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37All done.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41I just wonder why my, er, pulse rate was a little bit higher?
0:33:41 > 0:33:44It's probably cos I've got two angels, just going...
0:33:44 > 0:33:45Ah!
0:33:45 > 0:33:49Granddad's having an operation to remove the cancer.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52And it's hard,
0:33:52 > 0:33:57'because I'm at college, I can't see him before the operation.'
0:33:58 > 0:34:04And it's quite lonely when you're sat worrying on your own
0:34:04 > 0:34:09and you've got no-one to hug or to tell you it's going to be OK.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12'I've wanted to be there to help them and to support them,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15'so I've not felt like part of the family, really,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18'but I know he's proud of me that I'm staying in college'
0:34:18 > 0:34:23and I'm working really hard and I'm not letting it affect my work.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26And I think that's... that's the best thing I can do.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32Mum's visiting Granddad.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36It's the last chance for her to see him before his operation.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40- Hello. - Hello, chuck, how are you, eh?
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Sweetheart, don't be upset.
0:34:44 > 0:34:48Yeah. It's the day I've been waiting for.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50The day I've been waiting for.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52It's all worthwhile.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55So it'll all be over this time tomorrow night.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58- I've had me hair done. - Oh, that's wonderful.
0:34:58 > 0:34:59And here's your card.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02- And who's this from?- Me.
0:35:02 > 0:35:03That's just wonderful.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Champagne! Oh, my goodness - champagne!
0:35:07 > 0:35:11I didn't want to buy a sad one, because it's good luck.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Do you get a real bottle with this, that you can drink afterwards?
0:35:14 > 0:35:18- The sooner you get better, the sooner we can drink it.- OK.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19So don't be selfish.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22Oh, no, I will expedite my recovery.
0:35:22 > 0:35:28Just looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow. Granddaughters and yeah, OK.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- Don't you dare let me down. - I won't, don't you worry.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33- I need you.- I won't let anybody down.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37So no problem. All right, chuck? Don't worry.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Don't worry? If I was here lying like this, would you say that...?
0:35:41 > 0:35:44"Don't worry about me, Dad, I'm fine."
0:35:44 > 0:35:48- What would you say to me? You'd say, "Don't be so stupid!"- Yeah.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52- How many years have you been sat with me in hospital beds, worrying? - Time and time again.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55That's why I've got grey hair - it's not because of my age.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57I can assure you.
0:35:57 > 0:35:58Go on, blame me.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04- I'll see you in the morning.- OK.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- All right. See you tomorrow. OK, bye.- I love you.- OK.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10I'm very proud of you.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11I know, yeah.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Very proud of you too.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22There are blue skies over Wales,
0:36:22 > 0:36:24but a dark cloud hangs over our family.
0:36:24 > 0:36:30Granddad is on his way to have an operation to remove a cancerous tumour.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32'I'm at college on my own,
0:36:32 > 0:36:35'but I'm going to see Granddad after his operation.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39'I want to be positive and believe he'll survive,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41'but I'm terrified he won't
0:36:41 > 0:36:45'and that my family will lose the most important man in our lives.'
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Nana and Granddad have been married for 52 years
0:36:52 > 0:36:55and have spent almost every day together.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58He is half of the rock, and my mum is the other half.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02How is Mum going to manage mentally?
0:37:02 > 0:37:05This is somebody she's lived with for 50 years.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08How is that going to work without my dad?
0:37:09 > 0:37:12This is Nana and Granddad's son, my Uncle Gary.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16He followed in his father's footsteps and works on the railways.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18He and his family live 100 miles away
0:37:18 > 0:37:20but still share a special bond.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24He's always there for everyone.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28He makes everybody around him sort of, er, come to life.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36My dad is 100% relied on.
0:37:36 > 0:37:41If anything happens to my dad, then the family falls apart.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48He's my dad. He's everything a dad should be, and more.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51He loves me.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53He never stops telling me he loves me.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56He looks after me.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59He looks after Jazz.
0:37:59 > 0:38:04Jasmine wouldn't be Jasmine without him.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- Do we look the same? - Yeah, you've got the biggest teeth.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12He's been my dad for the last 16 years.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17He has helped me, he's guided me, he's taken me out places.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Right full rudder, right full rudder.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22Jasmine, the helmsman, right rudder, please.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26No matter the circumstances, he's always happy to see me
0:38:26 > 0:38:28and he's just my wonderful, wonderful Granddad.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32I couldn't imagine life without him.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Granddad's been brought back from the operating theatre,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46and we're waiting for him to come round.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49It's quite hard to see him so ill,
0:38:49 > 0:38:51cos I've never seen him that ill before,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54so it's quite hard to see him like that.
0:39:01 > 0:39:07Don't' worry...you'll be a hundred times better tomorrow.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11Well, at least it's all done, finished.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22We're the luckiest grandchildren in the world.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24We've got the strongest granddad ever.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28Granddad is going to be all better.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Right, Granddad?
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Granddad's going to be all better.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42We can stay all night, if you like!
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Well, YOU can!
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Yeah. I tell you what...
0:39:51 > 0:39:54'Fortunately, the cancer hasn't spread,
0:39:54 > 0:39:56'and the tumour's been removed,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59'but Granddad will have to stay in hospital
0:39:59 > 0:40:01'until he's well enough to come home.'
0:40:11 > 0:40:15'My brother, Alan, has decided to move from Stockport
0:40:15 > 0:40:17'into my dad's flat in Colwyn Bay.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20'Me, my best friend, Naomi, and my boyfriend, Levi,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22'are helping to decorate his room.'
0:40:22 > 0:40:25That wall is going to be blue, and this one
0:40:25 > 0:40:27and the other walls will be in sandstone.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30I've decided to stay down here in Colwyn Bay,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33because I wanted a fresh start, same as me dad's doing.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37'Helping out my big brother is great,
0:40:37 > 0:40:39'but I don't quite think we're qualified for this job!'
0:40:39 > 0:40:43I've never done any painting, so I'll probably be hopeless!
0:40:43 > 0:40:46I've done painting before, but I don't know if I'll be good at it.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48I've painted the kitchen.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51That's why it ended up looking rubbish, but you know...
0:40:58 > 0:41:01- It's spraying onto you. - It's spraying all over my arms!
0:41:01 > 0:41:05You're making us all look bad. Look, look at that!
0:41:05 > 0:41:09Spending time with Alan is really good,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11because he acts like a proper big brother.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12You're doing well, Jazz.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Thank you!
0:41:14 > 0:41:16'When we were painting, he was showing me how to do it properly.'
0:41:16 > 0:41:19I'm getting it all over me bottom.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21It'll wipe up, don't worry.
0:41:21 > 0:41:25It was really good, because I've never had the concept
0:41:25 > 0:41:29of a big brother, to sort of protect you and help you,
0:41:29 > 0:41:33and he really is like what you'd think a big brother would be like.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35You all right down there, Jazz?
0:41:35 > 0:41:38- Don't drop it on my head, will you? - Try not to, anyway.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41'It's important to me that I've met Bev and Jazz,'
0:41:41 > 0:41:44cos I'm glad that they're willing to make a little family together,
0:41:44 > 0:41:50'because I can't believe how we got on, from the gap we've had apart.'
0:41:50 > 0:41:52It's like we knew each other for ever, really.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57- It's looking good, this, isn't it? - I'm proud how quickly we all did it.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Yeah, I am quite proud of it.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Although I didn't do a lot, but I supervised, you know?
0:42:03 > 0:42:04One wall complete.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08Right, I think it's time for a tea break now.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19'Granddad's been out of hospital for a week now.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23'He's still on medication, but he's no longer in bed all day.'
0:42:23 > 0:42:26Whenever I go and see my Nan and my granddad,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28'I'll always take my granddad a train magazine,
0:42:28 > 0:42:32'cos he absolutely loves trains.'
0:42:32 > 0:42:36And when I was younger, he used to drag me round
0:42:36 > 0:42:38hundreds of train exhibitions,
0:42:38 > 0:42:39and I pretended I didn't like it,
0:42:39 > 0:42:42but I think I secretly did.
0:42:42 > 0:42:43TRAIN WHISTLES
0:42:43 > 0:42:48Right, this is us doing another steam train for Dad.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52Another year, another steam train. We're all absolutely freezing.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56Jasmine's full of the cold. We're really enjoying it(!)
0:42:56 > 0:43:00When he was younger, he used to work on the railway.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02He used to manage Piccadilly Station.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04So he feels very proud of that
0:43:04 > 0:43:07and he doesn't want to let it go, really,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10so I always try and bring him steam train magazines
0:43:10 > 0:43:15or little steam figures and things like that.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21Hi, Jasmine!
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Hello, you all right?
0:43:23 > 0:43:26- Have you come to see Granddad?- Yep. - Good.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29- He's just sat here. There we go. - Hello!
0:43:29 > 0:43:33- Hello, sweetheart.- You all right? - Mind me tummy. Mom!
0:43:33 > 0:43:36- You all right? - Yeah. Lovely to...see you.
0:43:36 > 0:43:37You all right?
0:43:37 > 0:43:40- Yeah.- OK.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43- Have a sit down, Jazz.- Yeah. - Have you brought him something?
0:43:43 > 0:43:48- Bought you a steam magazine, cos I knew... - Oh, my goodness gracious me.
0:43:48 > 0:43:51That's the best medicine you could've brought.
0:43:51 > 0:43:55- Glad to be out of hospital, anyway. - Oh, my goodness. It's lovely to be home again, yeah.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59My own bed, and no bleeping going on in the night.
0:43:59 > 0:44:02- I bet you're sleeping better. - Got to be very careful,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06cos you think you can do things and you can't, you know.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Take it nice and slow. No need to rush.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10- Your insides take a long time. - There's no need to rush.
0:44:10 > 0:44:16'After the operation, he looked awful, he looked so poorly,
0:44:16 > 0:44:20'and now he looks so much happier and he is happier, because of it.'
0:44:20 > 0:44:23It's made him appreciate life
0:44:23 > 0:44:26and think how quickly it can be taken away from you,
0:44:26 > 0:44:30and we're all just so happy for him, it's great.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34I'm on my way, I'm lucky. Lucky I had a good team,
0:44:34 > 0:44:38lucky I had a very good surgeon. He was wonderful.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41I'm lucky I've got a good family around me as well.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43- We're all really proud of you. - Yeah, I know.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47We're all so glad that you've come through it so well.
0:44:54 > 0:45:00- Like that top.- Thank you.- Are you going to wear your cardy with it?- Yeah.
0:45:00 > 0:45:04'Today, me and Mum are getting ready for a family party we've organised,
0:45:04 > 0:45:07'to celebrate Granddad's recovery from cancer.'
0:45:09 > 0:45:12- Why are you in MY room getting ready? - Cos I can't get in my room.
0:45:12 > 0:45:14I have to not go in her bedroom.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17Which is a rule we've both decided on.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21And she walks in my bedroom.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23Why aren't you at that mirror?
0:45:23 > 0:45:26- Because this is where the plug is, you go in that mirror.- No.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28You go in that mirror, this is where the plug is.
0:45:28 > 0:45:34That little 12 ft by 10 ft is my sanctuary,
0:45:34 > 0:45:38and no-one is allowed in it and no-one can come in it.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40But she does.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42She has every right to come in it,
0:45:42 > 0:45:44because she's a teenager.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47Nothing needs doing with your hair, it's perfect.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49- It's not.- It's not.- Not perfect.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51Oh, you're right(!) Oh, my God, look.
0:45:51 > 0:45:53Look, no, there is, there's piece... Oh!
0:45:53 > 0:45:55Oh, it's just going to ruin the whole day.
0:45:57 > 0:46:02Oh, I'll go like this, nobody'll notice.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03What about that pretty one there?
0:46:06 > 0:46:08That's quite nice.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10No, I'm wearing a scarf, so you won't see it.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12You're wearing a scarf the whole evening in the pub?
0:46:12 > 0:46:14Oh, I don't know.
0:46:14 > 0:46:18Well, they've got a roof on now and put windows in and doors,
0:46:18 > 0:46:22so you don't have to wear your outdoor clothes any more.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24And it's been like that for a while, apparently.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28Dry me hair.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33I'm getting fingers like you, look.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35Carrot fingers.
0:46:35 > 0:46:36They are, look.
0:46:36 > 0:46:37Yeah.
0:46:37 > 0:46:38Sorry?
0:46:38 > 0:46:40I said, "Thanks, Mum."
0:46:40 > 0:46:41It's all right.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Giving me your carrot fingers.
0:46:43 > 0:46:44Given you a beautiful face.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Give you an iPod Touch.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52Right, boots - I need you to help me put them on.
0:46:52 > 0:46:53I can't.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55- Oh, no.- I can't.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57I couldn't pull them, they'd break off.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59- Thank you for your help.- Any time.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02Oh, God, you're loads taller than me.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04Only cos I'm wearing heels.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08So, you can't help me on with my boots.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12Well, you're not having nails done again, forget it.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23As well as celebrating Granddad's recovery,
0:47:23 > 0:47:26what makes this family party extra special
0:47:26 > 0:47:32is that it's the first time my dad, Paul, and my brother, Alan, are going to be there.
0:47:32 > 0:47:34My granddad rang my dad up and said, "Please come today,
0:47:34 > 0:47:37"we've got to make you part of the family now,"
0:47:37 > 0:47:41and that is a huge step from going 16 years
0:47:41 > 0:47:45to being accepted back in the family, and it made me very happy.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48Hi, I'm Alan, Jazz's brother.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51Hi, Alan, nice to see you. I'm Shelley, Bev's sister.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53Nice to meet you.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58Sorry, I can't hear, somebody's squashing me..
0:47:58 > 0:48:01We'd like to propose a toast.
0:48:01 > 0:48:03First of all - thanks, everybody, for coming.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06We're here mainly for one reason today,
0:48:06 > 0:48:10and that is Granddad Norman.
0:48:10 > 0:48:12What about you?
0:48:12 > 0:48:20We'd like to say that Granddad Norman has battled through a very debilitating disease,
0:48:20 > 0:48:24he's got through it, he is now a cancer survivor.
0:48:24 > 0:48:29Thanks to his friends and family, he is fighting fit,
0:48:29 > 0:48:33and today we're all here to celebrate his continued...
0:48:33 > 0:48:35Normaless.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38- Normalness.- Normaness!- Normaness!
0:48:38 > 0:48:40Hey, I've never been called that before.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42So here's to Norman.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45CHEERING
0:48:50 > 0:48:54Nana and Granddad were wary about my dad being in my life again,
0:48:54 > 0:48:57so it's the first family occasion he's been invited to.
0:48:57 > 0:49:02It makes me realise how far we've come as a family.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05Hi, Paul, at last.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07- Yeah, at last. Are you all right?- Yeah.- Good.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11- I've been trying to across to you, it's been so busy.- I know, yeah.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14It's just tremendous to see you and Alan here today.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Yeah, I'm glad he's here myself.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19I wanted to be sure you're extremely comfortable with us today.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22Nobody's made me feel uncomfortable.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25You're Jazz's dad and you're part of this family,
0:49:25 > 0:49:30that's the important bit, and I'm really glad that you've settled in.
0:49:30 > 0:49:35I'm happy I'm here, and everybody I've spoke to has accepted me,
0:49:35 > 0:49:36as Jazz's dad,
0:49:36 > 0:49:41and that was important to me, cos I was a bit nervous at first,
0:49:41 > 0:49:44cos I weren't sure how people were going to react.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47I knew you'd be a bit nervous. That's why I wanted to talk to you
0:49:47 > 0:49:50- and make sure you was comfortable. - Thank you.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52You're part of the family, and that's it.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54I'm glad to be part of the family.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02Could we get any more in, girls?
0:50:02 > 0:50:05Now everyone's sure Granddad is making a full recovery,
0:50:05 > 0:50:11it's time for Aunty Shelley, and my cousins, Naomi and Sarah, to return home.
0:50:11 > 0:50:12- I'm not going up yet.- I know.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Oh, that's a nice one. That's lovely.
0:50:15 > 0:50:16Oh, that's gorgeous.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22My mum and dad were falling apart when I first came,
0:50:22 > 0:50:26and when I see them now, I see them totally blooming.
0:50:26 > 0:50:32Only now do I realise how vital it was to be here right now.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36Try and get the squares on everyone's head.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38All he's got is your feet.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40Has it run out?
0:50:40 > 0:50:42Oh, no, not one decent one there.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44There's not, there's not, there's just feet.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47If someone had said to me, "Do you know what,
0:50:47 > 0:50:50"when she is going home in three weeks,
0:50:50 > 0:50:53"they would all have had a fantastic time, your dad will have recovered,
0:50:53 > 0:50:58"the girls will have had a fantastic time, and we'll have become so much closer as a family."
0:50:58 > 0:51:00I am just so upset for Mum and Dad.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03My mum and dad are always heartbroken to see them go.
0:51:03 > 0:51:08I am not crying for me, because I know me mum and dad are devastated.
0:51:11 > 0:51:16Saying goodbye is always difficult, but this time it's bitter sweet,
0:51:16 > 0:51:20because Aunty Shelley is leaving behind a much healthier father
0:51:20 > 0:51:22than the one she met when she first got here.
0:51:22 > 0:51:27- Skype me every day.- Look after yourself, stay out of that hospital.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32Love you.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Bye-bye.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49Before Granddad was diagnosed with cancer, my mum, Aunty Shelley
0:51:49 > 0:51:52and Uncle Gary bought him a flying lesson for Father's Day.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58- I ordered the sun.- That's great.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03Six months after his life-saving surgery, he's totally recovered and is ready for takeoff.
0:52:03 > 0:52:07'There's only one problem - guess who he wants as his co-pilot...
0:52:07 > 0:52:09'me!'
0:52:09 > 0:52:11I really wasn't sure about flying.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14I wanted to do it for my Granddad and I wanted to do it,
0:52:14 > 0:52:18because I know if I did it and everything went well, I'd feel great afterwards.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20But I was just terrified.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23We carry a first aid kit behind the seat.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26- Do you have a sick bag?- We do. - You'll be all right, Jazz.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30Dad, I am trusting you with my daughter's life, so enjoy it.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34If this is the way they've got to go, Bev, this is it.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37Don't say that.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40'Nana isn't exactly filling me with confidence,
0:52:40 > 0:52:45'but after all Granddad's been through, I'll do whatever he wants.'
0:52:45 > 0:52:48You can imagine how proud I was when she walked out to that plane and got in with me.
0:52:48 > 0:52:53'It made the day that little bit extra special.'
0:52:53 > 0:52:55- Right, have a good trip.- Yes.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00'This is a dream come true. He has driven steam trains,
0:53:00 > 0:53:04'he's driven tanks, he's been in a helicopter ride in New York,
0:53:04 > 0:53:06'he's been in a hot-air balloon,'
0:53:06 > 0:53:09but he has never taken the controls of a plane.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11Be careful not to trip over the wire.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27- Are you OK in the back, Jazz? - Yeah, I'm fine, thanks.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36'Extreme excitement as we approached the runway.'
0:53:36 > 0:53:39Here we go...
0:53:49 > 0:53:54'The minute we started taking off, it was incredible
0:53:54 > 0:53:56'and all the nerves just went.'
0:53:56 > 0:53:59Looking down - just magnificent feeling...floating on air.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- What if something happens to them? - Bev, you've still got me.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07- Is that a bonus?- Yes.
0:54:07 > 0:54:08Is that supposed to cheer me up?
0:54:08 > 0:54:10Yes!
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Place your hands on the control wheel.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16All of a sudden, he said, "Take control," and then I was in control of the plane.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19So you have control.
0:54:19 > 0:54:20I have control.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22It was just brilliant.
0:54:22 > 0:54:24OK, what I want you to do now is just gently lower the nose.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27Perfect.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30I could see how proud he was and how happy he was,
0:54:30 > 0:54:33and the pilot kept saying how well he was doing.
0:54:33 > 0:54:34So I was really proud of him.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37- You're doing really well. - Very, very well indeed.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39Wow.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43Ooh, he's coming back this way - duck!
0:54:43 > 0:54:46- Duck?- He's coming back!
0:54:49 > 0:54:53Just looking at where I live now... yeah, I've got it.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Right over the top of your house, Jazzy.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02- Got a picture of it, Granddad. - Better than I could ever have imagined.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05We have this special relationship. We always have had.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08'And that's why it made all the difference today that,'
0:55:08 > 0:55:13at her age, she was still alongside me and doing things like this.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15Brilliant, love, brilliant.
0:55:15 > 0:55:19'A few months ago, I was in hospital with a serious operation,'
0:55:19 > 0:55:25and at that time, you thought perhaps a lot of the things in your life were over.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28'I feel fitter now than ever'
0:55:28 > 0:55:31and I could never have believed A - how fit I would be
0:55:31 > 0:55:34and just how excited I was about doing things like this.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38There's a train going down the Menai, Jazz. There's a train.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40- Hang on, Jazz, we'll give them a wave.- Woo!
0:55:40 > 0:55:45Ooh! Oh, my goodness gracious!
0:55:45 > 0:55:47A victory roll!
0:55:47 > 0:55:52'I've always known my granddad was special, but his illness has made me realise
0:55:52 > 0:55:57'just how much my grandparents have done for me over the years.'
0:55:57 > 0:55:58Absolutely brilliant.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01My dad may not have been around when I was growing up,
0:56:01 > 0:56:03but Nana and Granddad were always there,
0:56:03 > 0:56:06helping me and my mum every step of the way.
0:56:07 > 0:56:09I really do have the best family in the world.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11Group hug.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18Next time, me and Mum go Strictly Come Bollywood
0:56:18 > 0:56:22and unveil the mysteries of Marrakesh.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26'But we have to deal with becoming a tourist attraction ourselves.'
0:56:26 > 0:56:30Being followed. It's like being Madonna.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:56:44 > 0:56:47E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk