The Big Build - Hereford

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0:00:04 > 0:00:07For the moment, the biggest thing we have is hope

0:00:07 > 0:00:11that some sort of cure will come along.

0:00:11 > 0:00:14No, I know I'm never going to see Christopher walk down the aisle.

0:00:14 > 0:00:17We're here to help a family whose eldest son faces an uncertain

0:00:17 > 0:00:19future with muscular dystrophy.

0:00:21 > 0:00:23If we can prolong his life,

0:00:23 > 0:00:28for it to be a good quality of life, then that's what I aim for.

0:00:28 > 0:00:32But getting round the house is becoming increasingly difficult.

0:00:33 > 0:00:40To see Christopher in this, in this house, permanently, is scary.

0:00:41 > 0:00:45We're going to need the whole community to rally round.

0:00:45 > 0:00:48No...no parent should go through losing a kid.

0:00:48 > 0:00:51You know, it's a life-changing thing for a family

0:00:51 > 0:00:54and it was just, you know, something we could do to help, really.

0:00:54 > 0:00:59And we just have nine days to give this family the new start they need.

0:01:02 > 0:01:05All the usual suspects are here and look - Julia's back,

0:01:05 > 0:01:07but we will need a small army, if we're going to get this done.

0:01:07 > 0:01:11- Where are we going to find a small army - where are we going to find them?- We're over here!

0:01:11 > 0:01:15So they are - this is DIY SOS - The Big Build!

0:01:25 > 0:01:28Claire and Colin Gibbons live near Hereford with their two sons -

0:01:28 > 0:01:31five-year-old Ben and Christopher, aged seven.

0:01:33 > 0:01:36Today, hospital visits are a regular part of life.

0:01:36 > 0:01:4018 months ago, they were the last thing on anyone's mind.

0:01:40 > 0:01:44Colin was a fire-fighter, Claire was a supermarket manager.

0:01:44 > 0:01:48They were working hard to make their three-bedroom house

0:01:48 > 0:01:50a perfect family home.

0:01:50 > 0:01:54Over the six years we've been here, we've saved up enough

0:01:54 > 0:01:56to do one room at a time.

0:01:56 > 0:01:58I've done most of the work myself.

0:01:58 > 0:02:00He's bit of a perfectionist,

0:02:00 > 0:02:05so whereas you would think a job might take you maybe a day,

0:02:05 > 0:02:07it might take Colin maybe a couple of weeks.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11That's harsh, that's harsh.

0:02:14 > 0:02:18Just before Christopher's sixth birthday, Claire and Colin

0:02:18 > 0:02:21noticed their eldest son was walking stiffly,

0:02:21 > 0:02:25and took him to a child development specialist for tests.

0:02:25 > 0:02:29What they learned changed their lives forever.

0:02:29 > 0:02:35The doctor said Christopher has a muscle-wasting condition.

0:02:40 > 0:02:45And I said, "OK then," I was, "He'll have some medication for that.

0:02:45 > 0:02:46"That'll sort that problem out.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49"When does he need to have it?" You know - "We'll get it today."

0:02:51 > 0:02:53She said no.

0:02:55 > 0:02:57We obviously had no idea what was coming,

0:02:57 > 0:03:01so it was the second appointment when we went to see her.

0:03:03 > 0:03:09Erm, they obviously knew 100% then it was Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

0:03:09 > 0:03:12Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition

0:03:12 > 0:03:15overwhelmingly affecting boys.

0:03:15 > 0:03:19As muscle function deteriorates over time, Christopher finds it

0:03:19 > 0:03:21harder to stand or grip.

0:03:21 > 0:03:26I'm going to dig it so deep that it won't work.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29Increasingly Christopher has to spend days

0:03:29 > 0:03:33in his wheelchair, as walking becomes more difficult.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38Just watch the road, boys. Stay on the footpath.

0:03:40 > 0:03:43The way that we had it explained to us

0:03:43 > 0:03:49is that by the age of 10 to 12, Christopher will be wheelchair bound.

0:03:55 > 0:04:00By late teens, he'll be totally paralysed,

0:04:03 > 0:04:08and the life expectancy is early to mid '20s.

0:04:09 > 0:04:12Every case progresses at a different speed,

0:04:12 > 0:04:16but despite some promising medical research, there's currently no cure.

0:04:16 > 0:04:21He did ask me, "Mummy, is there a medicine?"

0:04:21 > 0:04:26and I said, "No, darling," I said, "They're working on it. They're working on that medicine",

0:04:26 > 0:04:30and that "One day you will have that medicine but I don't know when."

0:04:32 > 0:04:37Uneven floors and narrow doorways mean Christopher's wheelchair won't fit in the house.

0:04:39 > 0:04:40You have a good rinse.

0:04:42 > 0:04:46And with Colin away on night shifts, bedtime can be a real struggle.

0:04:47 > 0:04:51He is determined to walk up the stairs by himself,

0:04:51 > 0:04:54but he's getting heavier now and I can't...I can't carry him

0:04:54 > 0:04:56as I used to be able to carry him.

0:04:56 > 0:04:59The stairs are becoming dangerous but the last thing Claire

0:04:59 > 0:05:03and Colin want is for their seven-year-old to sleep downstairs.

0:05:05 > 0:05:07The reason why we want Christopher upstairs is to

0:05:07 > 0:05:11feel as part of the family. That is what he's used to.

0:05:11 > 0:05:15We wanted to be able to...for him to feel as normal as possible.

0:05:16 > 0:05:19Already bedtime is becoming far from normal.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22Christopher sleeps in splints to stretch his tendons,

0:05:22 > 0:05:25while nightly steroids protect his muscles.

0:05:26 > 0:05:28Lay back down.

0:05:28 > 0:05:29That's why we're coming,

0:05:29 > 0:05:33so Christopher can sleep upstairs near his family.

0:05:34 > 0:05:37Mummy loves you very much, OK?

0:05:37 > 0:05:39Night-night. Night-night, little man.

0:05:43 > 0:05:45So thanks to a tip-off from the next-door neighbour who

0:05:45 > 0:05:49wrote in, we've sent Mark in, two weeks before the main build to knock

0:05:49 > 0:05:53down the garage and lay foundations for a two-storey extension.

0:05:54 > 0:05:57It looks like he's found a couple of willing helpers.

0:05:57 > 0:06:01- When you're a builder it's fun.- Yeah.

0:06:01 > 0:06:06Look at that, like a shower falling down! Wow!

0:06:07 > 0:06:09This was the perfect home,

0:06:09 > 0:06:12but it's no longer fit for the family needs.

0:06:14 > 0:06:16We're on our way to turn things around

0:06:16 > 0:06:19and keep the Gibbons family together as long as possible.

0:06:21 > 0:06:25It's really strange for me to be in...in such a beautiful house,

0:06:25 > 0:06:28- and you've done this yourself? - Thank you. Yeah, yeah, most of it.

0:06:28 > 0:06:31It's a stunning job, he's done a really good job for you.

0:06:31 > 0:06:36Yes, yes, he really has made this house perfect for us

0:06:36 > 0:06:40to live in at this present moment but not obviously for the future.

0:06:40 > 0:06:43Why is it not fit for purpose? What are you going to need us to do?

0:06:43 > 0:06:45We're just thinking about the future,

0:06:45 > 0:06:49so widening of doorways downstairs and then to be able to have a

0:06:49 > 0:06:53bedroom upstairs for Christopher, that he can access, because

0:06:53 > 0:06:57he is struggling with the stairs now - walking up the stairs, yeah.

0:06:57 > 0:07:01- That does mean unpicking a lot of the work that you've already done to create a nice house.- Yes.

0:07:01 > 0:07:03And if we're going to come and do this for you,

0:07:03 > 0:07:06you realise we are going to have to do some damage?

0:07:06 > 0:07:10I'm not worried about, you know, any damage that's done, as long

0:07:10 > 0:07:13as Christopher gets what he needs, that's all I'm worried about.

0:07:13 > 0:07:17You've got an electric chair now have you? What's that like? Is it good? Is it like a buggy?

0:07:17 > 0:07:20Did you see that thing parked out there? That's my thing.

0:07:20 > 0:07:22- Oh, that's your one, is it?- Yeah.

0:07:22 > 0:07:23- OK. How is it, is it fast?- Yes.

0:07:23 > 0:07:26It's like having your own little buggy or go-kart,

0:07:26 > 0:07:30I suppose, isn't it? Is it all right when you have to take the chair?

0:07:30 > 0:07:34- Yeah?- Yeah.- Have you had a go in the wheelchair yet?

0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Sometimes. - Do you? Does he let you have a go?

0:07:36 > 0:07:40- Does he? What, the electric one? Is that fun?- Yeah.

0:07:40 > 0:07:43- Yeah. Cool. So who's the best driver at it?- Me.

0:07:43 > 0:07:46- Really? Is he? Is he?- Yeah.

0:07:46 > 0:07:51We've got a lot of work to do if we want to encourage wheelchair racing in the house.

0:07:51 > 0:07:53And talking of childish rivalry...

0:07:53 > 0:07:54Billy's got a new hat.

0:07:54 > 0:07:56You've got a new one, and you've got a new one.

0:07:56 > 0:08:00- I've been promoted. - Have you got a new one?- Yeah. - How come I haven't got a new one?

0:08:00 > 0:08:02We're all colour-coded as well, look.

0:08:02 > 0:08:03- Is that right?- I'm green.

0:08:03 > 0:08:04With envy?

0:08:04 > 0:08:08Yeah. Chris is red for danger. Billy's yellow.

0:08:08 > 0:08:10Amber.

0:08:10 > 0:08:14I'm "Stop", he's "Go" and he's "Wait!"

0:08:14 > 0:08:17And this week our designer is an old friend

0:08:17 > 0:08:20Yay! It's a good to be back, boys.

0:08:20 > 0:08:21I think she's come to the wrong set.

0:08:21 > 0:08:24It's like you're auditioning for Grease or something.

0:08:24 > 0:08:27Julia has a long history with the team,

0:08:27 > 0:08:31and she's one designer that's never been scared to get her hands dirty.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37Yes, if there's one thing Julia understands better than anyone,

0:08:37 > 0:08:41it's how to get the best out of the boys.

0:08:41 > 0:08:43Have I got to cart it all the way through myself?

0:08:43 > 0:08:48- Good luck.- Thank you, thanks for offering to help.

0:08:48 > 0:08:52But where there's a will, there's a way and she's certainly wilful.

0:08:57 > 0:08:59Oh, can't believe she came back.

0:08:59 > 0:09:03It's day one and we're off. It took six years to build, minutes to trash

0:09:03 > 0:09:06and we have just nine days to put this lot back together

0:09:06 > 0:09:09and construct a two-storey timber-frame extension.

0:09:09 > 0:09:12There's things going on everywhere with everything.

0:09:12 > 0:09:16There's windows coming out, conservatories going, landscapers, bricks going in and out.

0:09:16 > 0:09:17Fantastic. Sort of a hive of activity

0:09:17 > 0:09:20but yeah, it's making me really nervous already, cos there's

0:09:20 > 0:09:23dust flying around and it was just so perfect. I mean, Claire -

0:09:23 > 0:09:27bless her - hoovered before we arrived yesterday, and...

0:09:28 > 0:09:32That is like taking a mop to a tsunami, really, isn't it? It's er...

0:09:32 > 0:09:35Yeah, so I am extremely nervous about the whole thing,

0:09:35 > 0:09:39but we've got to do it and we've just got to do it as best we can.

0:09:39 > 0:09:42Of course we'll do the best we can. We always do the best we can.

0:09:42 > 0:09:45We never turn up and think we're going to do the worst we can.

0:09:45 > 0:09:47Julia's plans are all about freedom for Christopher.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51We're adding a ramp at the front and we're widening all doorways downstairs

0:09:51 > 0:09:54so Chris can use his wheelchair throughout the ground floor.

0:09:54 > 0:09:56We're going to knock down the conservatory

0:09:56 > 0:10:00and re-build it twice the size so the family have space to sit

0:10:00 > 0:10:04and eat together, and we're laying a new floor flush with the kitchen,

0:10:04 > 0:10:09eliminating the awkward step that currently hinders wheelchair access.

0:10:09 > 0:10:11We're ripping out the current playroom

0:10:11 > 0:10:14and growing its footprint with a new two-storey extension.

0:10:14 > 0:10:18A special wheelchair lift will take Christopher up to the new first floor.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21This space will provide a large bedroom, giving Christopher

0:10:21 > 0:10:24the room he needs for technical equipment, including a hoist

0:10:24 > 0:10:29going the length of the house to help him access a wet-room bathroom.

0:10:29 > 0:10:32It's all very scary equipment, really, for a little boy.

0:10:32 > 0:10:37We're going to try and disguise the equipment as much as possible, to make it really feel like home.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40It's about getting that balance right between getting the functionality

0:10:40 > 0:10:44and making sure that we've got everything in place for him, as time goes on, that he can get used to.

0:10:44 > 0:10:46Without looking like a hospital ward?

0:10:46 > 0:10:48Absolutely without it looking like a hospital.

0:10:48 > 0:10:51It's got to be a happy, dynamic, fun place for him to be.

0:10:51 > 0:10:54And there's one other instruction Julia has made loud and clear -

0:10:54 > 0:10:56see what it says?

0:10:56 > 0:10:57Upstairs, Julia has banished us

0:10:57 > 0:11:01from Colin's newly decorated master bedroom.

0:11:01 > 0:11:03Downstairs, Julia's instructed us

0:11:03 > 0:11:05to hand the lounge and kitchen back pristine

0:11:05 > 0:11:08once we've widened the doors. Not sure how we're going to do that,

0:11:08 > 0:11:11I mean, you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, can you?

0:11:12 > 0:11:15But if the instructions are not to do any damage,

0:11:15 > 0:11:17then we must obey the designer.

0:11:17 > 0:11:19We never go against the designer.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22Slightly worried because these are the...this room and the kitchen

0:11:22 > 0:11:26were the two rooms that we didn't want to damage too much.

0:11:37 > 0:11:40The debriefing we had this morning was we're not going to do any work

0:11:40 > 0:11:43in this part of the house, right?

0:11:45 > 0:11:47And you spin round to your right,

0:11:47 > 0:11:50we're not doing anything in this room,

0:11:50 > 0:11:52apart from widening all the doorways.

0:11:54 > 0:11:57So this is our finished floor.

0:11:57 > 0:12:00No-one made any provision to get any hardboard,

0:12:00 > 0:12:03I'm dreading the moment when we take up the floor covering,

0:12:03 > 0:12:05there's going to be little scratches.

0:12:05 > 0:12:09Outside, the timber frame building is firing up,

0:12:09 > 0:12:12and there's rumours we're being filmed. Amazing.

0:12:13 > 0:12:20It's now 11.45 and we started work at, what, 9.30, so two hours.

0:12:23 > 0:12:24Who was that bloke on the scaffold?

0:12:24 > 0:12:26Mind you, it's difficult to keep track.

0:12:26 > 0:12:29We've got people here from Somerset, Staffordshire, Yorkshire,

0:12:29 > 0:12:31basically all over England.

0:12:31 > 0:12:32People often ask us,

0:12:32 > 0:12:35how do you manage to get so many people working together?

0:12:35 > 0:12:36Well, you can't micro-manage them,

0:12:36 > 0:12:39what you have to do is just point them in the right direction

0:12:39 > 0:12:43and have an overview, someone in charge, somebody they can respect.

0:12:43 > 0:12:46A lot of people, innit? 20 people you've got under your command.

0:12:46 > 0:12:49- I know.- That makes you like an executive.- It does, doesn't it?

0:12:49 > 0:12:52- But I am a natural leader...- Are you? - ..of, erm, of men.- Oh, yeah?

0:12:52 > 0:12:55There's probably enough there, aren't there?

0:12:55 > 0:12:57Bit more? Another one in there, mate.

0:12:57 > 0:12:59Yeah, a lot of pointing, not much doing.

0:12:59 > 0:13:01What are you going to do with this place then,

0:13:01 > 0:13:04cos a garden, obviously, is really important in a house like this

0:13:04 > 0:13:06when you're trying to create maximum space.

0:13:06 > 0:13:09- Essentially, it's like another third of your living space.- It is,

0:13:09 > 0:13:12and we're going to do the most brilliantly fun thing out here

0:13:12 > 0:13:15and create like a track way around the garden

0:13:15 > 0:13:17so that he can race around on his wheelchair

0:13:17 > 0:13:19and Ben can race around on his bicycle.

0:13:19 > 0:13:21Nice, so that's what the oval down there is for.

0:13:21 > 0:13:25So this is what they've been doing here, they've been setting out...

0:13:25 > 0:13:26Fantastic garden, guys, this week.

0:13:26 > 0:13:31..they've been setting out this track way for us which is going to loop here and round here.

0:13:31 > 0:13:34Because of the different levels here, we've got real issues,

0:13:34 > 0:13:37cos we need to ensure obviously that you've got wheelchair access

0:13:37 > 0:13:41straight out of the house, straight into the room for the hot tub.

0:13:41 > 0:13:42Yes, the hot tub.

0:13:42 > 0:13:45Now, Claire's research secured donations for a hot tub

0:13:45 > 0:13:48from Make A Wish Foundation and the local Round Table

0:13:48 > 0:13:51soon after Christopher's diagnosis.

0:13:51 > 0:13:54His occupational therapist recommends daily exercise

0:13:54 > 0:13:58in the hot water to help relax his muscles.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01But the shed also needs to be right for the future -

0:14:01 > 0:14:03it's only going to get more difficult for Christopher

0:14:03 > 0:14:06to climb in and out without a hoist.

0:14:06 > 0:14:10There's no wheelchair access and it's cold in the winter.

0:14:10 > 0:14:12Is that nice? Yeah?

0:14:12 > 0:14:16So they use their hot tub pretty much all year round for his physio?

0:14:16 > 0:14:18Yeah, they do. Well, they need to definitely. The trouble is,

0:14:18 > 0:14:21at the moment it's not insulated, so we're going to insulate it all.

0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Oh, are you?- And make it a much better space for over winter months.

0:14:24 > 0:14:28We're also going to put in a little fibre optic twinkly ceiling as well,

0:14:28 > 0:14:30again just to sort of help with all the sensory experience

0:14:30 > 0:14:34and make it a really relaxing space, but I haven't told Billy yet.

0:14:34 > 0:14:36He doesn't know you've got fibre optics?

0:14:36 > 0:14:38- You know how he feels about fire optics?- Yeah.

0:14:38 > 0:14:41That's one showdown I'm looking forward to.

0:14:44 > 0:14:46Up on the first floor, we have a breakthrough,

0:14:46 > 0:14:49literally, as opposed to a breakdown which is what normally happens.

0:14:49 > 0:14:53This is the bit we're going to have to get absolutely right.

0:14:53 > 0:14:56This entrance way takes us into the brand-new room

0:14:56 > 0:14:58that is the heart of this build -

0:14:58 > 0:15:02a bedroom and bathroom fully equipped for Christopher's needs.

0:15:02 > 0:15:04It will let the family stay together on the same floor

0:15:04 > 0:15:06and that's so important.

0:15:06 > 0:15:08These timber framed extensions are fantastic.

0:15:08 > 0:15:12People say, "Are they strong enough compared to normal builds?"

0:15:12 > 0:15:13Well, if you think about it,

0:15:13 > 0:15:16Tudor buildings are timber framed and they've been here for ever.

0:15:16 > 0:15:19And thanks to our Taunton boys, the timbers keep on coming.

0:15:19 > 0:15:21This really is instant building.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24I've got something to show you in the hot tub room.

0:15:24 > 0:15:28Ladies and gentlemen, an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

0:15:28 > 0:15:31Now, what I want to do in here, Bill, erm,

0:15:31 > 0:15:33is to create a really lovely sort of sensory experience,

0:15:33 > 0:15:38- because it's really important for Christopher to be able to really relax.- Special lights.

0:15:38 > 0:15:40Yeah, so, this is where you come in.

0:15:40 > 0:15:43- So what I want to create is... - A row of lights?

0:15:43 > 0:15:47No. Starlit sky, and then it's your job to get it all linked up...

0:15:49 > 0:15:52And drill millions of holes and poke these through.

0:15:52 > 0:15:54Drill millions of holes, preferably in constellations.

0:15:54 > 0:15:57That's star patterns, Bill.

0:15:57 > 0:15:58Oh, well, you'll have to do that.

0:15:58 > 0:16:00What do you mean I'll have to do that?

0:16:00 > 0:16:02Well, a chippy will have to drill them, MDF.

0:16:02 > 0:16:04Oh, why, can you not do that?

0:16:04 > 0:16:06That's a chippy's job, ain't it?

0:16:06 > 0:16:10Right, OK, so that's your little job for this week.

0:16:10 > 0:16:12This week, my little job for this week?

0:16:12 > 0:16:15What about the rest of the house, I don't need to deal with that?

0:16:15 > 0:16:17This is the important bit.

0:16:17 > 0:16:20Anyway, right, so there we go. Good luck.

0:16:20 > 0:16:22Design team 1, spark's face 0.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28In the back garden, it's level pegging,

0:16:28 > 0:16:31and the racing track is taking shape - not bad for the first day.

0:16:32 > 0:16:35Amazingly, our timber frame extension is up to the second floor

0:16:35 > 0:16:37with the roof trusses on already,

0:16:37 > 0:16:40and it's not the only place that's actually developed.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42The garden has been completely stripped, the conservatory has gone

0:16:42 > 0:16:45and the footings are in for this amazing racetrack,

0:16:45 > 0:16:48and it's worth looking at the size of the place.

0:16:49 > 0:16:52It's huge, huge enough for a utility room, for a bathroom

0:16:52 > 0:16:54and then a play area for the boys here,

0:16:54 > 0:16:57which is all going to be linked via a lift shaft here

0:16:57 > 0:16:59up to a giant bedroom and wet room in the top,

0:16:59 > 0:17:03and all that has been done in just one day, not bad, eh?

0:17:04 > 0:17:08You know it never fails to amaze me the progress that we make,

0:17:08 > 0:17:09with the right help.

0:17:11 > 0:17:13This morning, it's the brickies' turn.

0:17:13 > 0:17:16Our timber frame is getting a brick skin from top to bottom,

0:17:16 > 0:17:19so the new extension matches the rest of the house.

0:17:19 > 0:17:20I mean, if it was a naked builder,

0:17:20 > 0:17:23we'd be putting a pair of trousers and a T-shirt on

0:17:23 > 0:17:24to make it match everybody else.

0:17:24 > 0:17:27I'll go away from that simile straightaway, I think.

0:17:27 > 0:17:29And our glaziers have driven two hours with windows

0:17:29 > 0:17:32and a brand-new set of doors for the conservatory.

0:17:32 > 0:17:36But Chris is stuck in what is fast becoming his least favourite room.

0:17:37 > 0:17:40- Oh, there you are, I've been wondering where you were.- I'm here.

0:17:40 > 0:17:42I'm in the rooms that aren't having anything done to.

0:17:42 > 0:17:46- That was the brief, remember?- Yeah, cos I've seen you looking frustrated

0:17:46 > 0:17:47and hopping from foot to foot all day.

0:17:47 > 0:17:49Well, we've had these door linings fitted

0:17:49 > 0:17:52so I wanted to patch around them while it was quiet,

0:17:52 > 0:17:54but every time I keep coming in the room,

0:17:54 > 0:17:57there's cables...which isn't their fault,

0:17:57 > 0:18:00but Billy wants to put two-way switches in, whilst...

0:18:00 > 0:18:05Makes perfect sense, but I can't patch plaster until they're in.

0:18:05 > 0:18:07Look, I've got my tools all ready to go,

0:18:07 > 0:18:12- bucket of water there, bag of hard wall, but I can't get at it.- Yeah.

0:18:12 > 0:18:15Very frustrating, and considering that we're not doing nothing

0:18:15 > 0:18:17- in these two rooms.- Well, apart from destroying them,

0:18:17 > 0:18:21- I mean, we have made a few holes in them.- We've done very well.

0:18:21 > 0:18:24So where is Bonny Prince Billy? I'm afraid he's otherwise occupied.

0:18:24 > 0:18:26Not working - arguing.

0:18:26 > 0:18:29- Are the fibre optics going in today? - We haven't touched them.

0:18:29 > 0:18:30- Why not?- Not in that room.

0:18:30 > 0:18:33I do not do fibre optics, that's a chippy's job.

0:18:33 > 0:18:35You said yesterday...

0:18:35 > 0:18:39No, you said. MDF is wood, isn't it, really, in a way?

0:18:39 > 0:18:41- So that's a chippy, ain't it?- Yeah.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43I bet I can do it.

0:18:45 > 0:18:47You're a better man than me, Gunga Din.

0:18:47 > 0:18:49I bet I could do it cos that's ridiculous.

0:18:49 > 0:18:51Round 2 to the sparks.

0:18:51 > 0:18:54- All right, fine, all right. - But we will all be here to help.

0:18:54 > 0:18:56Oh, no, you won't!

0:18:56 > 0:18:58Out the back, insulation board is going into the hot tub,

0:18:58 > 0:19:00and, with that one out of action,

0:19:00 > 0:19:02Christopher is at a local leisure centre

0:19:02 > 0:19:05having a supervised hydro therapy session.

0:19:07 > 0:19:09This is just one of the regular treatments

0:19:09 > 0:19:11Claire takes him to each week.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14It's meant Claire giving up work,

0:19:14 > 0:19:18as she devotes all her time and energy to her son's medical needs.

0:19:19 > 0:19:24Well, I went into crisis mode when I found out about Christopher.

0:19:24 > 0:19:26I...I did research,

0:19:26 > 0:19:31I phoned up charities, wanting to know, erm,

0:19:31 > 0:19:34was there a cure, was there medicine,

0:19:34 > 0:19:36what I could do personally.

0:19:36 > 0:19:41When the consultant originally told us what Christopher had

0:19:41 > 0:19:43was a muscle-wasting disease,

0:19:43 > 0:19:48I sat there numb and took full responsibility for it.

0:19:48 > 0:19:50What do you mean full responsibility?

0:19:50 > 0:19:53Because being his mum,

0:19:53 > 0:19:57because they explained to us that it was genetic, that it came from me.

0:19:57 > 0:20:00That's a huge thing that you're saying there,

0:20:00 > 0:20:04"I take full responsibility," as if there needs to be blame somehow.

0:20:04 > 0:20:08It's my responsibility to make sure that the family functions,

0:20:08 > 0:20:10- I've got... - It's both of your responsibilities.

0:20:10 > 0:20:15Yeah, I know, but I had to give Colin that time to grieve, erm,

0:20:15 > 0:20:18cos it is a grieving process of what you've lost,

0:20:18 > 0:20:21of what potentially you're going to lose with Christopher

0:20:21 > 0:20:25and the sort of life that he could have potentially lived.

0:20:25 > 0:20:30I had to let him cry. Colin went into meltdown.

0:20:30 > 0:20:31So when do you get time to cry?

0:20:36 > 0:20:42But that's the point, I don't think I do that.

0:20:44 > 0:20:48It's hard, but Claire's obviously had to stay strong and support Colin

0:20:48 > 0:20:51as he struggled with the news of Christopher's diagnosis.

0:20:53 > 0:20:56One thing I hope when they return home in a few days

0:20:56 > 0:20:58is that they both draw strength

0:20:58 > 0:21:00from the huge support network they have around them.

0:21:00 > 0:21:03Friends, family, colleagues

0:21:03 > 0:21:05and almost 80 tradesmen turning up every day.

0:21:07 > 0:21:11In Christopher's bedroom, the walls are starting to take shape,

0:21:11 > 0:21:13and this fancy hole

0:21:13 > 0:21:16is the aperture for that wheelchair lift to the ground floor.

0:21:19 > 0:21:23Meanwhile Jules and his merry men are laying the concrete base

0:21:23 > 0:21:26for our new conservatory. It's a very hi-tech operation.

0:21:28 > 0:21:31This is a new...this is a new technique, actually,

0:21:31 > 0:21:33- taught to me by the locals. - Is that right?

0:21:33 > 0:21:35Yeah, I haven't got me wellies...

0:21:35 > 0:21:37- Right.- ..so he said bag up.

0:21:38 > 0:21:41That doesn't look right, does it, really?

0:21:41 > 0:21:43What's going on, then,

0:21:43 > 0:21:45cos how come there's a big hole in the corner there?

0:21:45 > 0:21:47Not enough concrete.

0:21:47 > 0:21:49What happened, Julian, what's going on?

0:21:49 > 0:21:52We're just...we're just fine tuning.

0:21:52 > 0:21:56We've sort of set the floor, but really 15mm too high.

0:21:56 > 0:21:58Fine tuning! I think our leader of men is out of his depth.

0:21:58 > 0:22:01Time to bring my cerebral gold mine to bear.

0:22:01 > 0:22:03Well, what is it you want me to measure?

0:22:05 > 0:22:08Well, I want you to put the spirit level out so it's level.

0:22:08 > 0:22:13- No. See the tiles? Come off the tiles.- Yes.- Come out level.- Yes.

0:22:13 > 0:22:15And measure down to the concrete, please.

0:22:18 > 0:22:20- 90..- Still 90?

0:22:20 > 0:22:24Could you open up the other door and do exactly the same process, please.

0:22:27 > 0:22:28It's 95.

0:22:28 > 0:22:31Just for the record, it's worth remembering this.

0:22:31 > 0:22:33We need this concrete level with the kitchen floor

0:22:33 > 0:22:35for Christopher's wheelchair.

0:22:35 > 0:22:38Jules had better get it right before it sets, with him in it!

0:22:40 > 0:22:43Luckily, our young plaster boarders seem to know what they're doing.

0:22:43 > 0:22:45As we reach the end of the second day,

0:22:45 > 0:22:48Christopher's room is boarded out for plastering in the morning.

0:22:48 > 0:22:51Inside the house, at least, it's all going rather smoothly.

0:22:56 > 0:22:58It's a beautiful brand-new day

0:22:58 > 0:23:00and Chris has two teams at work on the extension.

0:23:00 > 0:23:04Well, my boys have moved down, going to board this one out,

0:23:04 > 0:23:07and we've got a new gang of plasterers upstairs plastering that,

0:23:07 > 0:23:08so they're chasing them.

0:23:10 > 0:23:12How you doing? It's Mark here at SOS.

0:23:12 > 0:23:14I've got a major problem, mate.

0:23:14 > 0:23:15'Yes, you have, you're too short.'

0:23:15 > 0:23:17Do you know the aperture...?

0:23:17 > 0:23:19'I mean, not in life, I mean with the measurements,

0:23:19 > 0:23:21'that's why we call him 100 Millar.

0:23:21 > 0:23:24'He's always too short by about 100mm.'

0:23:24 > 0:23:26What's actually happened is

0:23:26 > 0:23:29the information that we got was wrong for the lift going in,

0:23:29 > 0:23:33and the lift guys have come out to fit the lift and the lift won't fit in the aperture.

0:23:33 > 0:23:36Now we've got the walls built upstairs/downstairs, the floors down,

0:23:36 > 0:23:38all the radiator pipes going through, the wiring through,

0:23:38 > 0:23:41we've got to rip the whole thing out and re-build it.

0:23:41 > 0:23:44I'm telling you, he measured it wrong and it's causing huge problems.

0:23:44 > 0:23:46- We've got to cut the floor out.- No.

0:23:46 > 0:23:49- We've got to move the walls up the stairs.- No.

0:23:49 > 0:23:51- And we've got... - I've got plasterers upstairs.

0:23:51 > 0:23:53You're going to have to go and have a word with them.

0:23:53 > 0:23:56The most important thing in this house is to get this lift in.

0:23:56 > 0:24:00- I'd better stop them skimming the ceiling, so I'll go and stop the plasterers.- Yeah, you'd better do.

0:24:00 > 0:24:03Gentleman, gentlemen, all change, all change. Bit of a problem.

0:24:03 > 0:24:06You're going to come out and tell us to stop.

0:24:06 > 0:24:09How can you read my mind?

0:24:09 > 0:24:11You don't want to go in there, mate, scary.

0:24:11 > 0:24:13No-one's fault. Mark's.

0:24:13 > 0:24:17That wall has got to move this way 100mm. Sorry about that.

0:24:17 > 0:24:19No problem, Christopher.

0:24:19 > 0:24:21Christopher? Sounds like my grandad.

0:24:21 > 0:24:23So Chris's boys have to down tools

0:24:23 > 0:24:26while our chippies unpick their own work.

0:24:26 > 0:24:28Time to make myself scarce, I think.

0:24:31 > 0:24:32Colin must have found it hard

0:24:32 > 0:24:36balancing the needs of his job with the needs of his family,

0:24:36 > 0:24:40especially in the difficult days after Christopher's diagnosis.

0:24:41 > 0:24:44All of a sudden, it just got too much, erm...

0:24:45 > 0:24:48I don't know, it was just a build-up, I think

0:24:48 > 0:24:50and then, one day, I was actually at work

0:24:50 > 0:24:54and the wheels fell off and that was it,

0:24:54 > 0:24:56everyone knew then it was time for me

0:24:56 > 0:24:59to go and spend time with the family.

0:24:59 > 0:25:01I do get a sense that you're frustrated with yourself.

0:25:01 > 0:25:03Very, very.

0:25:05 > 0:25:08- Because?- You do feel it's out of your control,

0:25:08 > 0:25:12I mean, yeah, the fatherly role is to protect your family,

0:25:12 > 0:25:16protect your kids and look after your wife, erm, but obviously,

0:25:16 > 0:25:19when Christopher was diagnosed, that was taken away from me.

0:25:19 > 0:25:22You know, you have your children, two boys in my case,

0:25:22 > 0:25:26and you're thinking, right, it will be football on the Saturday,

0:25:26 > 0:25:29and you think of all the things you're going to do with them

0:25:29 > 0:25:31as they're growing up,

0:25:31 > 0:25:35and then, all of a sudden, half of that is taken away and that's...

0:25:35 > 0:25:38Well, you can either make a list of the things that he can't do,

0:25:38 > 0:25:41- or you can make a list of the things he can do.- Yeah.

0:25:41 > 0:25:44You have support from your work colleagues, from your community,

0:25:44 > 0:25:47from an extraordinary wife,

0:25:47 > 0:25:52and what you've got to come to terms with now, you can't change...

0:25:52 > 0:25:53you can't change the diagnosis

0:25:53 > 0:25:57- which is what you're still trying to fight in your head.- Yeah.

0:25:57 > 0:26:01You've just got to find something to be...to throw your energy at,

0:26:01 > 0:26:05burn off all that frustration about it not being fair and...

0:26:06 > 0:26:09..so you can be there for her and the boys.

0:26:09 > 0:26:13I know exactly what you're saying. I know exactly what you're saying.

0:26:13 > 0:26:16Getting you sorted and getting you right

0:26:16 > 0:26:19- about how you're going to deal with this is important to him.- Yeah.

0:26:22 > 0:26:24Back on site, the lift engineers are signing off

0:26:24 > 0:26:27on the new position for the lift shaft.

0:26:29 > 0:26:31Getting there, getting there.

0:26:31 > 0:26:34As long as we're about 50mm from the face of that skirting board

0:26:34 > 0:26:37- to the outside of these beams. - What's the actual gap?- 9.46.

0:26:39 > 0:26:41Upstairs, a second lot of chippies

0:26:41 > 0:26:43are ripping out the wall we put in yesterday.

0:26:44 > 0:26:47And round the back, you know the doors we put in yesterday?

0:26:47 > 0:26:49Yeah, they're coming out too.

0:26:49 > 0:26:51- They're heavy. - Got to take the glass out, mate.

0:26:51 > 0:26:53Can we afford to keep doing things twice?

0:26:53 > 0:26:55I say, can we afford to keep doing things twice?

0:26:55 > 0:26:59Really, it needs to be an internal set of doors, not external doors,

0:26:59 > 0:27:00cos these here have a rebate on them,

0:27:00 > 0:27:04and that rebate runs all the way round the door, top and bottom,

0:27:04 > 0:27:06and that's why it's catching the floor,

0:27:06 > 0:27:09cos that rebate is to stop the weather coming in.

0:27:09 > 0:27:13So simply put, you've ordered the wrong doors, haven't you?

0:27:15 > 0:27:17(He's a bit grumpy.)

0:27:19 > 0:27:22Oh, this is not a good sign, he's gone quiet,

0:27:22 > 0:27:24it's never good when he goes quiet.

0:27:25 > 0:27:27Well, there's no point blaming the designer

0:27:27 > 0:27:31cos they never take the blame for anything. "It wasn't me, it was him."

0:27:31 > 0:27:33None of them can measure.

0:27:33 > 0:27:37I'm hot, and when I get hot and I'm sweating and I get all...

0:27:39 > 0:27:41Ooh, I could crush a grape.

0:27:45 > 0:27:48So whilst Julian is mentally making fruit salad,

0:27:48 > 0:27:52it looks like our lift shaft is in the right place at last.

0:27:52 > 0:27:55It's taken six men the best part of a morning. Blimey.

0:27:55 > 0:27:57- That's it finished?- Yeah.

0:27:57 > 0:27:59- Sorted?- Yep.

0:27:59 > 0:28:01- Is it right?- I'm happy.

0:28:01 > 0:28:04Well done, lads. Tidy job.

0:28:05 > 0:28:07It's a tidy job because someone else measured it

0:28:07 > 0:28:09and then fixed it, Mark.

0:28:09 > 0:28:12Actually, there is one thing extra Mark forgot to do -

0:28:12 > 0:28:15update the furniture designer with the new dimensions.

0:28:15 > 0:28:19That will be the one delivering wall-to-wall oak veneer benches,

0:28:19 > 0:28:21pre-made, to size, as ordered.

0:28:21 > 0:28:24This is Andy who, very kindly, has done some furniture for us,

0:28:24 > 0:28:27and having made loads of furniture to fit into the room,

0:28:27 > 0:28:29it didn't fit because...?

0:28:29 > 0:28:32- Cos a wall had been moved. - Yeah.- 170mm.

0:28:32 > 0:28:34Yeah, that's because 100 Millar, as we call him, as we've discussed,

0:28:34 > 0:28:36made a mistake on the measurements.

0:28:36 > 0:28:39Why have you decided to join in, because, to be honest, mate,

0:28:39 > 0:28:44- you could have been somewhere else earning money rather than doing something for nothing?- Yeah,

0:28:44 > 0:28:46but, erm, from a charity point of view, erm,

0:28:46 > 0:28:49I lost my daughter last year and something like this,

0:28:49 > 0:28:51it's my way of giving something back

0:28:51 > 0:28:54and the people of Hereford have been fantastic, supporting us,

0:28:54 > 0:28:56so that was one of the reasons I jumped on board.

0:28:56 > 0:28:58I didn't know that, honestly.

0:28:58 > 0:29:01I didn't know that was the case with you, I'm so sorry to hear that.

0:29:01 > 0:29:05It's kind of... He's having a real struggle to come to terms with, er,

0:29:05 > 0:29:09- what he's facing with his boy. - Yeah, yeah.

0:29:09 > 0:29:12And without wanting to push you too hard on this,

0:29:12 > 0:29:17but I'm...I'm not sure how I would begin to get up the next day

0:29:17 > 0:29:19and go to work, did you find that?

0:29:19 > 0:29:22It was so tough, yeah, it was seriously tough.

0:29:22 > 0:29:24But I've great friends, I've got great family

0:29:24 > 0:29:28and, erm, work has been, yeah, it's helped me get over it.

0:29:28 > 0:29:30Throw yourself hard into work.

0:29:30 > 0:29:32Yeah, yeah, cos without it, it would have been so much harder.

0:29:32 > 0:29:36I'm very glad you came along to help and I really appreciate it as well,

0:29:36 > 0:29:38it will make a big difference to this family as well,

0:29:38 > 0:29:41- they've got tough, tough years coming up.- Yeah, yeah,

0:29:41 > 0:29:44and no parent should go through losing a kid.

0:29:44 > 0:29:47I mean, that's been, you know, very hard for us.

0:29:53 > 0:29:56That's been one hell of a day, that has.

0:29:56 > 0:29:59We turned up this morning, everything looking great

0:29:59 > 0:30:01and then the lift was in the wrong place,

0:30:01 > 0:30:03so we had to rip the ceilings down, move everything about,

0:30:03 > 0:30:08re-build the walls, re-plaster it, change the plumbing,

0:30:08 > 0:30:11change the wiring, had to rip the doors out,

0:30:11 > 0:30:14we've just had to change everything today, it's been a hell of a day.

0:30:23 > 0:30:26Look at that sunshine, what a cracking day!

0:30:26 > 0:30:30And talking of the skies, Julia's concentrating on her constellations.

0:30:30 > 0:30:32She's in fibre optic heaven,

0:30:32 > 0:30:35drilling stars for the hot tub light fittings.

0:30:35 > 0:30:37This is the night sky as it was

0:30:37 > 0:30:40on the day that Colin and Claire got married. How cute is that!

0:30:42 > 0:30:45- Who cares? - Who cares?! It's romantic!

0:30:45 > 0:30:49No-one's going to sit there and think, "Oh, hang on a second, I recognise that night sky.

0:30:49 > 0:30:52"Wasn't that the night sky on the night they got married?"

0:30:52 > 0:30:54Punch some random holes in, feed the fibre optics and go,

0:30:54 > 0:30:57"That was the sky when you got married," and they'll go, "Oh, was it? Oh lovely."

0:30:57 > 0:31:00They're never going to get a piece of paper and compare it, are they?

0:31:00 > 0:31:02They might do.

0:31:02 > 0:31:05Don't ruin it for me, I'm having a lovely time.

0:31:05 > 0:31:07Is it worth the effort?

0:31:07 > 0:31:09Most of what we're doing is about the little boys,

0:31:09 > 0:31:12and it's all for Christopher, which is fantastic

0:31:12 > 0:31:13and that's what we're here for,

0:31:13 > 0:31:17- but Colin and Claire really need something for them, I feel.- Yes.

0:31:17 > 0:31:19And it's lovely, it's a lovely thing.

0:31:19 > 0:31:21Any woman would love this surely?

0:31:21 > 0:31:23Really? Really? There's a woman over there,

0:31:23 > 0:31:26there's a woman with a hard hat on, a building woman,

0:31:26 > 0:31:28- when did she turn up? - I have no idea.

0:31:28 > 0:31:30Excuse me, lady, there, hello, hello, yes.

0:31:30 > 0:31:34Hello, can you pop round a second, can you come this way?

0:31:34 > 0:31:37So this is a sensible lady with shorts on, you see.

0:31:37 > 0:31:39- You're a firefighter, aren't you? - I am, yeah.

0:31:39 > 0:31:43- OK, what's your name?- Carolyn. - Hello, Carolyn.- Carolyn, right.

0:31:43 > 0:31:45Carolyn, we're discussing here,

0:31:45 > 0:31:49would they prefer tickets to a show and dinner for the night out

0:31:49 > 0:31:51or to have a representation in lights on the ceiling

0:31:51 > 0:31:56of how the sky was when they got married?

0:31:56 > 0:31:59OK, I would go for the show and meal.

0:31:59 > 0:32:00Oh, for goodness sake!

0:32:02 > 0:32:04HE LAUGHS AND CHEERS

0:32:05 > 0:32:08Caroline and Colin's other workmates from the fire station

0:32:08 > 0:32:11have been on site all week offering their support.

0:32:11 > 0:32:14They may not be trades, but they've turned up anyway,

0:32:14 > 0:32:16determined to do what they can,

0:32:16 > 0:32:18including misusing equipment....

0:32:19 > 0:32:22..to do something unusual with a sausage.

0:32:22 > 0:32:26Down below, a brickie's working on the access ramp to the front door.

0:32:26 > 0:32:28Round at the back, the concrete slab is well and truly set,

0:32:28 > 0:32:32and underfloor heating is going into the conservatory.

0:32:34 > 0:32:37We've had a little bit of a problem cos Knowlsey helped with this.

0:32:37 > 0:32:39'What do you mean?'

0:32:39 > 0:32:42- Well, there's another problem that Knowlsey didn't work out.- 'What?'

0:32:42 > 0:32:45- It's 20mm too high. - 'That wasn't me!'

0:32:45 > 0:32:47Well, in one place.

0:32:47 > 0:32:48Yeah, the whole square!

0:32:50 > 0:32:53I think we all know who's really responsible for the concrete

0:32:53 > 0:32:58and, with the insulation laid, it's obvious the slab is still too high.

0:32:58 > 0:33:01There's only one solution - they're in for a long hot afternoon.

0:33:07 > 0:33:10Meanwhile in the playroom, at least the sparks are ahead of schedule.

0:33:12 > 0:33:14I feel confident that I've measured it right

0:33:14 > 0:33:19and as I drill a hole, the cable should fall through. Let's go, son.

0:33:19 > 0:33:22It's like an episode of Thunderbirds.

0:33:22 > 0:33:27And 37.5. Right, drill, please, scalpel, knife.

0:33:27 > 0:33:29Deodorant perhaps?

0:33:32 > 0:33:35- It's always best...- To wear glasses. - ..to shut your eyes.

0:33:35 > 0:33:37Yeah, or wear goggles.

0:33:37 > 0:33:421-0, that's 1-0 to us, the sparks, we got that one.

0:33:42 > 0:33:44He's a complete pilchard, isn't he?

0:33:44 > 0:33:48And up the gable end of our new extension - some real professionals.

0:33:48 > 0:33:50Our Taunton brickies are finishing the brick skin,

0:33:50 > 0:33:53and there's their very last brick.

0:33:53 > 0:33:59He's sweating, very impressed. 4,500 bricks.

0:33:59 > 0:34:004,500 bricks in three days.

0:34:00 > 0:34:02That's proper bricklaying, that is.

0:34:02 > 0:34:04"That is proper bricklaying, that is."

0:34:04 > 0:34:06Our racing track is looking good too.

0:34:06 > 0:34:10The landscapers have been cementing blocks all morning.

0:34:10 > 0:34:12Just for a change, it's all going to plan.

0:34:12 > 0:34:14I'm sure we can soon put a stop to that.

0:34:14 > 0:34:18Can I just ask what the design team is doing out here at this stage?

0:34:18 > 0:34:22What we are doing is setting out the lighting around our racetrack,

0:34:22 > 0:34:26cos we've got these lovely little lights to insert into the bricks.

0:34:26 > 0:34:28It's too late, the stones are already in.

0:34:28 > 0:34:31No, no, they can pop back out again cos they're not set.

0:34:31 > 0:34:34When you take them back out again, it means you have to put more stuff underneath

0:34:34 > 0:34:36because otherwise they go out of level.

0:34:36 > 0:34:38You can't just pop them out and pop them back in.

0:34:38 > 0:34:42- I'm not going to argue with the lady.- Thank you very much indeed.

0:34:42 > 0:34:44- Really?- No chance.

0:34:44 > 0:34:46No? Not you either?

0:34:46 > 0:34:49Since when did you get all suddenly Mr Helpful?

0:34:49 > 0:34:52We're only trying to get the job done, aren't we, darling?

0:34:52 > 0:34:53Thank you very much indeed, yes.

0:34:53 > 0:34:56Have you given him Rohypnol or something?

0:34:57 > 0:34:59But we won't be able to do it

0:34:59 > 0:35:02- standing round talking about it, will we, sausage?- No.- So we need...

0:35:02 > 0:35:04I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?

0:35:04 > 0:35:06Am I in the way, am I?

0:35:06 > 0:35:09I'm sorry. I'll go somewhere else, then, shall I?

0:35:09 > 0:35:12Yeah, it seems to me, on this build, if a job's worth doing,

0:35:12 > 0:35:14it's worth doing at least twice.

0:35:14 > 0:35:16I mean, just ask Jules.

0:35:16 > 0:35:19He's clearly lost it after laying the floor for the 15th time.

0:35:19 > 0:35:22He could be in Riverdance, couldn't he?

0:35:22 > 0:35:25The insulation's in and the pipe work is in,

0:35:25 > 0:35:28so we've put a temporary ply floor over,

0:35:28 > 0:35:29and a DPM just to keep the rain out.

0:35:29 > 0:35:32And because we've had to take out the doors,

0:35:32 > 0:35:38we're temporary blocking the opening in for security for tonight,

0:35:38 > 0:35:41that's what we're doing.

0:35:41 > 0:35:43They all think he's lost it.

0:35:43 > 0:35:45Right, are we ready?

0:35:46 > 0:35:50Do you think you should let people out first, Jules?

0:35:50 > 0:35:53Oh, yeah. Oh, does your mate want to get out, don't he?

0:35:56 > 0:36:03Proper job. Right, somebody drill me and screw me.

0:36:13 > 0:36:14Morning. As you can see,

0:36:14 > 0:36:18tradesmen are turning up right, left and centre. 82 on site yesterday.

0:36:18 > 0:36:21We need about 85 today if we're going to get it done.

0:36:21 > 0:36:22Another busy day ahead.

0:36:22 > 0:36:26With the last slate in place, at last we can drop the scaffolding.

0:36:26 > 0:36:28Well, when I say drop, take it down carefully, obviously,

0:36:28 > 0:36:31in case there's anybody from health and safety taking notes

0:36:31 > 0:36:34and wanting to write in - we do love your letters.

0:36:34 > 0:36:37That means the landscapers can start on the back, smoothing the level

0:36:37 > 0:36:40so Christopher has wheelchair access from the house to the hot tub.

0:36:40 > 0:36:41And the conservatory has arrived

0:36:41 > 0:36:44now Jules has finished shaving his underfloor insulation.

0:36:44 > 0:36:46Inside the house, Chris is going nowhere fast -

0:36:46 > 0:36:49the coving's damaged where we had to move the boiler,

0:36:49 > 0:36:52meaning Chris will have to patch up his favourite room again.

0:36:52 > 0:36:54We're not doing nothing in here, Bill?

0:36:54 > 0:36:57We're not touching the kitchen, the living room,

0:36:57 > 0:36:59the bathroom or the bedroom.

0:36:59 > 0:37:03- Or the hallway.- Don't dare touch it, don't dare touch it.

0:37:04 > 0:37:08Upstairs, little Christopher's en-suite bathroom is beginning

0:37:08 > 0:37:12to take shape and some of the medical kit is starting to turn up.

0:37:12 > 0:37:15This is what will help Christopher maintain his independence

0:37:15 > 0:37:17in the coming years.

0:37:18 > 0:37:19So this is amazing.

0:37:19 > 0:37:22Basically, I've got this in my hand, I come in to use the loo.

0:37:22 > 0:37:25Basically, if he sits on the loo, as he sits back,

0:37:25 > 0:37:28the seat depresses at the back and it activates a seat switch,

0:37:28 > 0:37:29he'll press with his elbow

0:37:29 > 0:37:33- and then that will activate the wash and dry facility.- What happens here?

0:37:33 > 0:37:35FLUSHING

0:37:40 > 0:37:42It works.

0:37:43 > 0:37:46Thank you very much, thank you.

0:37:46 > 0:37:48The toilet also uses jets of warm air

0:37:48 > 0:37:52so Christopher will be able to wash and dry himself hands-free.

0:37:52 > 0:37:55I'm very impressed, actually. It's a brilliant bit of kit.

0:37:55 > 0:38:00The decorators are turning Chris's old room into a bedroom for Ben,

0:38:00 > 0:38:02and in Christopher's new room,

0:38:02 > 0:38:06a street artist is working on a mural with a touring car theme.

0:38:09 > 0:38:10Why touring cars?

0:38:10 > 0:38:14Well, both Ben and Christopher are racing mad, Colin too in fact,

0:38:14 > 0:38:16so we've bought the whole family to the go-karts

0:38:16 > 0:38:18for a bit of friendly competition.

0:38:18 > 0:38:24- So who's going to win? Me, Jules or your dad?- You.

0:38:25 > 0:38:27Is that a bit of favouritism?

0:38:27 > 0:38:29- Try and win, go flat out. - Flat out?

0:38:30 > 0:38:34It may not be football on a Saturday like Colin mentioned,

0:38:34 > 0:38:38but this is a chance for him to focus on the things he can do with the boys.

0:38:48 > 0:38:52- Put your foot down, that's it, good boy.- Put my foot down!

0:38:58 > 0:39:02They play in the back garden with their little push along cars

0:39:02 > 0:39:04and they pretend they're racing drivers,

0:39:04 > 0:39:06every boy's little dream,

0:39:06 > 0:39:10but to see them two and to have the track to themselves, yeah...

0:39:10 > 0:39:12Well, you could see for yourself,

0:39:12 > 0:39:17the smile on their faces, brilliant, priceless, absolutely priceless.

0:39:19 > 0:39:21Well done, boys, well done!

0:39:21 > 0:39:24Well done, the boys! Which brings us to the grudge match.

0:39:26 > 0:39:29Right, then, lads, prepare to be beaten.

0:39:29 > 0:39:30He can only drive tractors,

0:39:30 > 0:39:34he'll be no good on a go-kart, that's for sure.

0:39:34 > 0:39:36He has got a weight advantage, to be fair.

0:39:38 > 0:39:41Look at that look. There's somebody who wants his dad to win!

0:39:41 > 0:39:45It's the prince of darkness versus the king of tractors versus Dad.

0:39:46 > 0:39:48Come on, Daddy, come on, Daddy.

0:39:48 > 0:39:49And they're off!

0:39:52 > 0:39:54And it's an early lead for Dad.

0:39:58 > 0:40:01Billy's been overtaken already by Julian.

0:40:02 > 0:40:05See, some of those tractors go quite fast.

0:40:05 > 0:40:07Come on, Daddy! Come on!

0:40:07 > 0:40:10Dad's certainly still holding on to the lead, making his sons proud.

0:40:12 > 0:40:14This was supposed to be a bit of a laugh,

0:40:14 > 0:40:17now they're taking it really seriously.

0:40:18 > 0:40:19Last lap.

0:40:21 > 0:40:22- Daddy won.- Daddy won.

0:40:23 > 0:40:25Clap for Daddy.

0:40:25 > 0:40:27Were you cheering Daddy on? Good boy.

0:40:27 > 0:40:29Crash you didn't.

0:40:29 > 0:40:33No, I didn't. I thought I'd lost it a couple of times.

0:40:33 > 0:40:38It's been a great day, victory for Dad and smiles for the whole family.

0:40:40 > 0:40:43And back on site, even Chris has something to celebrate.

0:40:43 > 0:40:46With one day to go, he's finally out of the room

0:40:46 > 0:40:50that he was doing nothing to. It's only taken him eight days!

0:40:52 > 0:40:54There's one big job we haven't started yet.

0:40:54 > 0:40:57You know that building site out the front, the rubble garden?

0:40:57 > 0:41:00We need to turn it into a lovely garden.

0:41:00 > 0:41:03Luckily enough, that bloke spraying the soil blue

0:41:03 > 0:41:05is a Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner.

0:41:06 > 0:41:10Peter Dowle has taken a personal interest in helping out.

0:41:11 > 0:41:14I can't believe we've got someone of your importance and eminence.

0:41:14 > 0:41:18Well, we had the call, it's in Herefordshire and local business,

0:41:18 > 0:41:20so we thought, what could we do to help?

0:41:20 > 0:41:24We got the call, my sister has a lovely little son Joseph

0:41:24 > 0:41:27who's just been diagnosed with the same condition.

0:41:27 > 0:41:30- Really?- Mm.- Man, that's hard.

0:41:30 > 0:41:31Sorry.

0:41:34 > 0:41:37Sorry. And it was just, you know, something we could do to help really,

0:41:37 > 0:41:40- so that was just... - Jesus, that's tough.

0:41:40 > 0:41:43How do you even begin to get your head round news like that?

0:41:43 > 0:41:45Yeah, he's 16 months, 18 months old,

0:41:45 > 0:41:48so it's just diagnosed in the last three, four months,

0:41:48 > 0:41:53so it's a life-changing thing for a family and...

0:41:55 > 0:41:58So you decided to get involved in this and help this family out.

0:41:58 > 0:42:00Well, it's important to them.

0:42:00 > 0:42:03The more space they can get and the more normal the lad's life can be,

0:42:03 > 0:42:06and by putting a nice garden in, and also a little race track

0:42:06 > 0:42:09out the back there, so when he's using his wheelchair...

0:42:09 > 0:42:11Yeah, a big Scalextric, then.

0:42:11 > 0:42:13Well, that's kind of what it feels like, doesn't it?

0:42:13 > 0:42:16And I suppose normality is the thing you're aiming for,

0:42:16 > 0:42:18and what's really interesting is, in your garden design,

0:42:18 > 0:42:20what you're trying to do, I'm guessing,

0:42:20 > 0:42:23is combine what you'd normally do in a garden, like a beautiful garden,

0:42:23 > 0:42:26with a highly usable garden for their specific needs.

0:42:26 > 0:42:29Absolutely. A practical outside space

0:42:29 > 0:42:32which, you know, makes it a nice space to be in.

0:42:32 > 0:42:34Fantastic. Wonderful.

0:42:34 > 0:42:37Unbelievably, our conservatory is up at last!

0:42:37 > 0:42:41Yes, blow the trumpets! Put up the bunting! We can hang the doors!

0:42:41 > 0:42:44They've actually become a bit of a garden feature recently,

0:42:44 > 0:42:46we thought we were going to leave them there.

0:42:46 > 0:42:48And the floor's level with the kitchen at last.

0:42:48 > 0:42:51Jules finally got it right in the end.

0:42:53 > 0:42:55Guys, wonderful job.

0:42:55 > 0:42:58I'm almost feeling a little bit... a little bit emotional.

0:43:01 > 0:43:02Oh, you! Other side.

0:43:03 > 0:43:05Thanks.

0:43:08 > 0:43:10Blimey! Music's gone a bit heavy, isn't it?

0:43:13 > 0:43:14Have a dance at home if you want.

0:43:14 > 0:43:16Tarmac and artificial turf

0:43:16 > 0:43:19will give Christopher an all-weather surface for his wheelchair,

0:43:19 > 0:43:21and, hang on a minute,

0:43:21 > 0:43:24isn't that Julia's constellations I see before me?

0:43:24 > 0:43:28Rather late in the day. Another job that's taken nine days.

0:43:28 > 0:43:31Oh, yes! Yes! Oh!

0:43:32 > 0:43:35You've still got to feed those onto the main one.

0:43:35 > 0:43:37This is why I've been trying to get a chippy on the job

0:43:37 > 0:43:39for the last four hours, but Mr Millar - no, no, no!

0:43:39 > 0:43:43- Skirtings in the house are more important apparently.- Well, they are.

0:43:43 > 0:43:45No, they're not.

0:43:45 > 0:43:47Well, they are.

0:43:47 > 0:43:48Yeah, but they're not.

0:43:48 > 0:43:50In the period that you've managed to do one board,

0:43:50 > 0:43:53we've managed to build a two-storey extension.

0:43:53 > 0:43:56Is that a fair comment, really, is it?

0:43:56 > 0:43:58Er, yes.

0:43:58 > 0:44:00It's going to be so beautiful when it's done.

0:44:00 > 0:44:03So anyway, now we know it works, that's great.

0:44:03 > 0:44:07Brilliant. Our handmade furniture is back with a few modifications,

0:44:07 > 0:44:08and this time it fits.

0:44:10 > 0:44:12Beautiful, look at that.

0:44:12 > 0:44:15It's the final push, here comes the lift.

0:44:17 > 0:44:18Fits perfectly, like a glove.

0:44:22 > 0:44:25We have hoists in the playroom and up in Christopher's bedroom.

0:44:28 > 0:44:29And a motorised hospital bed

0:44:29 > 0:44:32will be able to turn Christopher as he sleeps.

0:44:33 > 0:44:35But despite all the medical equipment,

0:44:35 > 0:44:38Julia is determined to keep things looking fun.

0:44:42 > 0:44:45Just nine days ago, we arrived to find a family rocked

0:44:45 > 0:44:49by news of their oldest boy's muscle-wasting condition.

0:44:49 > 0:44:54We would walk to the end of the Earth to find that cure for Christopher.

0:44:54 > 0:44:58The seven-year-old was in danger of being cut off from family life

0:44:58 > 0:45:02on the first floor, especially at bedtime, already an ordeal.

0:45:03 > 0:45:05Mummy loves you very much, OK?

0:45:05 > 0:45:09We always knew this was going to be a sensitive build.

0:45:09 > 0:45:13We're hoping that it's...the changes aren't going to be all clinical.

0:45:16 > 0:45:18When we see the house with the lift in,

0:45:18 > 0:45:20with the hoist and things like that,

0:45:20 > 0:45:22it's going to be heart-breaking I know,

0:45:22 > 0:45:25because it's something that you know is coming.

0:45:25 > 0:45:28We had to transform Claire and Colin's home

0:45:28 > 0:45:30without trashing years of hard work.

0:45:32 > 0:45:34(He's a bit grumpy.)

0:45:34 > 0:45:37And we had to do most things twice.

0:45:37 > 0:45:39Don't dare touch it, don't dare touch it.

0:45:39 > 0:45:42But with 80, 90, 100 trades every day...

0:45:42 > 0:45:47- On behalf of everyone on the planet, thank you very much.- Thank you.

0:45:47 > 0:45:51..some travelling from Essex, Leicester and Yorkshire,

0:45:51 > 0:45:58and with a firefighting army marching on their stomachs,

0:45:58 > 0:46:00the people of Hereford have given this family

0:46:00 > 0:46:04the new start they need, whatever the future holds.

0:46:09 > 0:46:13A two-storey extension means we've been able to give Christopher

0:46:13 > 0:46:16more room for his wheelchair, upstairs and down.

0:46:16 > 0:46:20The family lounge is back to its former glory,

0:46:20 > 0:46:21but with widened doors.

0:46:21 > 0:46:22You'd never know we'd been here.

0:46:22 > 0:46:27And the kitchen, well, you'd think we'd never been here either.

0:46:27 > 0:46:29We've taken the boys' narrow playroom and widened it

0:46:29 > 0:46:33with a bright construction theme. They're going to love this.

0:46:35 > 0:46:38How cool is this for boys to play in?

0:46:38 > 0:46:42In the adjoining toilet, there's loads of room for Chris's wheelchair,

0:46:42 > 0:46:45and a team of friendly robots guard the walls.

0:46:47 > 0:46:50A wheelchair lift will take Christopher up to a brand-new bedroom.

0:46:50 > 0:46:56This was the space Claire and Colin asked us not to make look like a hospital ward.

0:46:56 > 0:46:58I think we've done all right.

0:46:59 > 0:47:02Christopher's new bathroom includes hands-free taps and toilet,

0:47:02 > 0:47:04and a rising bath.

0:47:04 > 0:47:06But we've given it a locker room feel in the colours

0:47:06 > 0:47:09of his dad's favourite football club - Sunderland AFC.

0:47:12 > 0:47:17Christopher's old bedroom has been re-engineered for young Ben -

0:47:17 > 0:47:20a bike-mad, map-loving five-year-old who hero worships his dad.

0:47:21 > 0:47:24Downstairs, that cramped conservatory has been transformed

0:47:24 > 0:47:26into a bubble of calm,

0:47:26 > 0:47:30a gracious space for the whole family to come together.

0:47:30 > 0:47:32And with those doors hung at last

0:47:32 > 0:47:35and the floor level sorted inside and out,

0:47:35 > 0:47:39Christopher can race from the furthest corner of the garden

0:47:39 > 0:47:41right the way to the front of the house.

0:47:43 > 0:47:47- Unusually, we're going to do this start with the outside.- OK.

0:47:47 > 0:47:50So, a lot of people have worked very hard

0:47:50 > 0:47:54to give you the best possible home that they could.

0:47:54 > 0:47:56OK, three, two, one - open your eyes.

0:48:02 > 0:48:04Oh, my God, it's wonderful!

0:48:04 > 0:48:06Oh, wow. I can't... Wow.

0:48:09 > 0:48:12It looks completely different, look at the door.

0:48:12 > 0:48:13If you look up by the drainpipe,

0:48:13 > 0:48:16the straight line that you can see down,

0:48:16 > 0:48:18everything to the right is new.

0:48:21 > 0:48:24OK, new playroom, in you go.

0:48:29 > 0:48:33- Oh, my God.- Oh!- It's outstanding, it's magic, it's magical...

0:48:33 > 0:48:34It's amazing, wow.

0:48:36 > 0:48:38This doesn't even...

0:48:41 > 0:48:45You can't even see it, it's like a little spaceship.

0:48:46 > 0:48:47Have a little seat just there.

0:48:47 > 0:48:50Importantly, this area here is an area that, obviously,

0:48:50 > 0:48:53they can play in and jump around in at the moment. Later on,

0:48:53 > 0:48:55when he finds it more difficult, it's an area he can lay as well,

0:48:55 > 0:48:57and, of course, with the hoist,

0:48:57 > 0:49:00he'll be able to get in and out as well, so he'll be able to lay here.

0:49:00 > 0:49:02If he's going to lay on here, we still want him

0:49:02 > 0:49:04to be able to play, so in here...

0:49:05 > 0:49:06Oh, look.

0:49:06 > 0:49:09There's a digger truck, track already built in there,

0:49:09 > 0:49:11so that he can play with that.

0:49:13 > 0:49:17Look at those little baskets, look at the skips!

0:49:17 > 0:49:19- Ben's skip and Chris's skip.- No way.

0:49:20 > 0:49:24I can't believe that all this was done in such a short amount of time.

0:49:24 > 0:49:27We could have never have done this ourself. All this space.

0:49:27 > 0:49:30Wheelchair access door, wheelchair access door,

0:49:30 > 0:49:31and then wheelchair access door there,

0:49:31 > 0:49:33which is not something we have shown you yet,

0:49:33 > 0:49:36so maybe you should nip in there next.

0:49:40 > 0:49:42Oh, my, look at the wallpaper.

0:49:45 > 0:49:46Oh, my goodness.

0:49:49 > 0:49:50Oh, wow. Oh, wow.

0:49:52 > 0:49:55Of course, one of the key things about this build

0:49:55 > 0:49:58was always going to be about the access

0:49:58 > 0:50:01and making sure that he could get around, so...

0:50:13 > 0:50:15He is going to love that.

0:50:16 > 0:50:19It's like an adventure park, isn't it, for him? Look at it.

0:50:19 > 0:50:21Do you remember the instruction you gave us?

0:50:21 > 0:50:22"It's important he has access

0:50:22 > 0:50:26- "but I don't want it to look like a hospital."- Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

0:50:26 > 0:50:28So we've made it like an adventure park instead.

0:50:34 > 0:50:37Would you like to step out into Chris's new bedroom?

0:50:40 > 0:50:42Oh, my God, look at the cars!

0:50:44 > 0:50:47Look at his bed, Christopher's bed.

0:50:47 > 0:50:51- He's got a bed that doesn't look hospitalised.- I know.

0:50:51 > 0:50:52And there's lots of controls on it.

0:50:52 > 0:50:54Basically, it goes up at the end, up at the top,

0:50:54 > 0:50:58and, also, you can tip it so it turns him and turns him in the night

0:50:58 > 0:51:01so he can either turn himself or you can turn him,

0:51:01 > 0:51:04and that's all under these controls here.

0:51:04 > 0:51:06OK, this is the thing we were all worried about

0:51:06 > 0:51:08and we were going to struggle to deal with,

0:51:08 > 0:51:09so we've seen some hoists,

0:51:09 > 0:51:12- we've seen a hoist down in the playroom area as well.- Yeah.

0:51:12 > 0:51:13This is the key hoist here, obviously.

0:51:13 > 0:51:15I'm going to demonstrate it

0:51:15 > 0:51:17and I hope you're not going to be too upset by it,

0:51:17 > 0:51:20but there is a little spaceship which flies around,

0:51:20 > 0:51:24to the point where, if he comes up in the wheelchair in the lift,

0:51:24 > 0:51:26then you can use the hoist,

0:51:26 > 0:51:28you can use the hoist here, to get into the bed,

0:51:28 > 0:51:32the hoist will also come through and into the new wet room bathroom.

0:51:46 > 0:51:53- It doesn't look clinical at all, does it, Colin?- No, no.- At all.

0:51:55 > 0:51:59You knew how I was feeling about coming in here, but it's just wow.

0:52:00 > 0:52:02Pretty cool, isn't it?

0:52:03 > 0:52:05We want to give you the environment

0:52:05 > 0:52:09where you make the most of every day you've got, you know, what I mean -

0:52:09 > 0:52:12every day, rather than...

0:52:12 > 0:52:17it takes off some of the worry about what's going to happen, what's going to happen, what's going to happen.

0:52:17 > 0:52:21- Yeah.- Just start living in the now for the time that you've got.- Yeah.

0:52:24 > 0:52:27Oh, wow! Oh!

0:52:29 > 0:52:31Ben's skip.

0:52:32 > 0:52:35- So do you know what this is?- Yes.

0:52:35 > 0:52:38OK, let me show you, something you can do here with your brother.

0:52:38 > 0:52:41So what you do is, press that down one, there.

0:52:43 > 0:52:47Let it stop there, just there. Right, hang onto that.

0:52:49 > 0:52:51And your other hand, see how long you can hang on.

0:52:55 > 0:52:58LAUGHTER

0:53:04 > 0:53:07There he goes. Oh, he's gone.

0:53:07 > 0:53:09See that little box on the wall just there?

0:53:09 > 0:53:12Press that arrow and see what happens.

0:53:15 > 0:53:16What? What?

0:53:19 > 0:53:22Wow.

0:53:31 > 0:53:33Oh, wow.

0:53:46 > 0:53:47What do you think, Ben?

0:53:47 > 0:53:49It never looked like this before.

0:53:49 > 0:53:50< Oh, wow.

0:53:50 > 0:53:53That's because this room, this part of the house wasn't here before,

0:53:53 > 0:53:55it's an all-new part of the house.

0:53:57 > 0:53:58Wow.

0:53:59 > 0:54:00Is that cool, Ben?

0:54:04 > 0:54:06- You like it?- Yeah.

0:54:06 > 0:54:10So if you had to give marks out of ten for your bedroom,

0:54:10 > 0:54:12how many out of ten would this be?

0:54:13 > 0:54:1512.

0:54:16 > 0:54:19Do you want to hop down, then? Come down your ladder.

0:54:19 > 0:54:22- There's a bit of a den underneath as well, did you see that?- No.

0:54:29 > 0:54:37Oh, wow. Oh, my God, it's much bigger, it's loads bigger.

0:54:37 > 0:54:41Yeah, I was going to put some sort of ramp to get over that,

0:54:41 > 0:54:44it was always going to be a worry for us.

0:54:44 > 0:54:47Let me tell you, getting the floor height correct in here

0:54:47 > 0:54:49was a massive worry for us cos we did it wrong at first

0:54:49 > 0:54:52and we had to go back and do it all over, it was a nightmare.

0:54:52 > 0:54:55Wow!

0:54:55 > 0:54:57Look!

0:54:57 > 0:54:59A main road!

0:55:07 > 0:55:09Got their own racetrack.

0:55:09 > 0:55:12- I didn't even know there was going to be a road.- Wow.

0:55:13 > 0:55:16He changed it.

0:55:16 > 0:55:18Just a bit. That's genius, that's genius.

0:55:23 > 0:55:24And there's one more surprise,

0:55:24 > 0:55:27if we can entice Christopher out of the garden.

0:55:29 > 0:55:31It's not just his wheelchair access

0:55:31 > 0:55:34and a new relaxing space for his hydrotherapy.

0:55:37 > 0:55:39Open your eyes.

0:55:42 > 0:55:44Oh, wow!

0:55:46 > 0:55:48Oh, wow.

0:55:48 > 0:55:52- And a hoist.- And a hoist. That's what we were worried about getting.

0:55:52 > 0:55:55The lights on that board aren't just put up randomly,

0:55:55 > 0:56:00- that is the stars on the day you two married.- No way!

0:56:00 > 0:56:02- How romantic is that!- Nice.

0:56:10 > 0:56:12CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:56:26 > 0:56:29So the family have just seen the house

0:56:29 > 0:56:31and, as you can see, they're really happy.

0:56:31 > 0:56:33These are some of the people -

0:56:33 > 0:56:36the ones at the back, stand up on tippy toes so that you can see -

0:56:36 > 0:56:39these are the people who've been here for the last nine days.

0:56:39 > 0:56:41What an amazing bunch of people you all are,

0:56:41 > 0:56:43you've changed the house around.

0:56:43 > 0:56:45We went through a list. We were talking to the lads here

0:56:45 > 0:56:48and tell me the list again - your favourite things in the house?

0:56:48 > 0:56:49- Erm, the lift.- The lift.

0:56:51 > 0:56:54- The bedroom.- Whose bedroom? - Mine and Christopher's.

0:56:54 > 0:56:56The track, they love the track out the back,

0:56:56 > 0:56:58for all the people who got involved with the track.

0:56:58 > 0:57:00Like a road it is.

0:57:00 > 0:57:02It is like a road, isn't it? Yes, it's very cool.

0:57:02 > 0:57:06Thank you to everybody, everybody that's here today, just thank you.

0:57:26 > 0:57:3080, 90 builders every day turned up. They're amazing, amazing neighbours.

0:57:30 > 0:57:32I can't take it all in.

0:57:34 > 0:57:38It looks different with flowers in the middle of the road.

0:57:38 > 0:57:40- Does it look pretty?- Yeah.

0:57:40 > 0:57:42- Cheers, buddy.- Well done, mate.

0:57:43 > 0:57:47Tell you what, you're holding it together really well, mate.

0:57:47 > 0:57:50I think one of the toughest challenges in life,

0:57:50 > 0:57:52especially as a parent,

0:57:52 > 0:57:55is dealing with things that you just can't change.

0:57:55 > 0:57:57How this family have come to terms with the diagnosis

0:57:57 > 0:58:00they received 18 months ago is...

0:58:00 > 0:58:02well, it doesn't bear thinking about, does it?

0:58:02 > 0:58:05So if you can't change everything, change a little bit at a time.

0:58:05 > 0:58:08And that's what all these people have done.

0:58:08 > 0:58:10They've come along and changed what they can and, as a group,

0:58:10 > 0:58:14they've made a massive change to how Christopher's life will run over the next few years.

0:58:14 > 0:58:16He'll be able to use the whole house,

0:58:16 > 0:58:18he'll be part of the family everywhere,

0:58:18 > 0:58:21he'll have as normal a childhood as is possible.

0:58:23 > 0:58:26So concentrate on what you can change, not what you can't.

0:58:26 > 0:58:28Maybe you could help somebody.