0:00:04 > 0:00:07We're here for a couple who've dedicated their lives
0:00:07 > 0:00:09to caring for others.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12For a dad who's been struck down in a moment of tragedy.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17They left here one day happy, excited,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21and he came back and he wasn't the same fella at all.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26I wish that no-one will experience what I have.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The children have lost the dad they once knew,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33and their mum has been cut off from her husband.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36And he was so great to the patients, he looked after them so well,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39and now he's in this situation where he has to be washed
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and cared for like a baby, it's so, you know, heart-breaking to see this.
0:00:42 > 0:00:47It's a cruel twist of fate for a man who once helped the ill and infirm,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49and now needs help himself.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51And I miss him.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56So we're here to rebuild a home and give something back to people
0:00:56 > 0:00:59who've asked for little, yet given so much.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06But our skills are going to be tested to the limit.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07What is going on?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10My heart rate has just gone right up, seriously, what's going on?
0:01:10 > 0:01:11And we can't do it alone.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15It's going to take a whole community to brave the wintry weather
0:01:15 > 0:01:16to get the job done.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19We've been waiting all day for this.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Yes, yes, yes, here they all are, this is DIY SOS The Big Build!
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Orpington, south-east London, is home to health care worker Jason,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49his wife Effie - a highly trained cardiac nurse -
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and their two children -
0:01:51 > 0:01:54five-year-old AJ and 18-month-old Isabella.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57They saved hard and bought this three-bedroomed terrace
0:01:57 > 0:01:59soon after five-year-old AJ was born.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01They've always been a close family,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04juggling shift work at the hospital with days out.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10We like going out eating, you know, having a meal outside,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15we enjoyed taking AJ to parks.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Jason and AJ are very close.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23But that closeness has been shattered by one tragic moment.
0:02:23 > 0:02:2618 months ago, whilst on a trip to the Philippines
0:02:26 > 0:02:29to introduce newly born Isabella to their family for the first time,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Jason had a scooter accident.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34He suffered a massive brain haemorrhage
0:02:34 > 0:02:38and was in a coma for 18 days. It didn't look good.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Doctors said he wouldn't pull through.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46He says it's going to be the last, you know, days.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48I know that I'm not getting him back.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Remarkably, Jason survived.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59The accident has left him completely paralysed down his right side,
0:02:59 > 0:03:00and partially sighted.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03The neurosurgeon told me,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07"This is not like a film - within two hours he's going to walk -
0:03:07 > 0:03:10"this is years,
0:03:10 > 0:03:16"you need your patience, your effort, cos now you are a single mum."
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Jason has had to learn the most basic of tasks all over again and,
0:03:19 > 0:03:24although he is making slow progress, Effie's life has changed for ever.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29I lost my friend, I lost my husband, I lost the father of my kids,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31I miss his cuddle.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I cuddle him, I kiss him, there's no emotion...
0:03:36 > 0:03:37..and I really miss that.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42I normally call him on the bus, "I'm on my way..."
0:03:44 > 0:03:47..and sometimes I still hold my phone and wish I can call him.
0:03:49 > 0:03:55I miss those things, but I'm just, you know, hoping still.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Jason is stuck in the house,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and can't get up the stairs to the family's only bathroom
0:04:02 > 0:04:03without two people helping,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07so they've had to create this makeshift washing area and commode
0:04:07 > 0:04:11built from an old wheelchair in the corner of the kitchen.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Jason washed and cared for people at the hospital
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and, in a tragic role reversal,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20he's the one who now needs the same care.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28I feel sorry for Jason, he's losing his confidence,
0:04:28 > 0:04:29he's losing his dignity.
0:04:31 > 0:04:32My kids are running around
0:04:32 > 0:04:35and they see Jason's doing his toilet
0:04:35 > 0:04:38which is hard to explain it to the kids.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41The children are struggling to understand what has happened
0:04:41 > 0:04:45to their dad, the fact made worse because the extreme damage
0:04:45 > 0:04:49to Jason's brain has prevented him from speaking properly.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56Bizarrely what few words he can mutter are in broken Spanish,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58a language he hasn't spoken since childhood.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03This is particularly hard for five-year-old AJ who is autistic
0:05:03 > 0:05:08and can no longer understand his dad and is missing him terribly.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11It's very difficult to explain it to him
0:05:11 > 0:05:15that Dad cannot play with him any more.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20To makes matters worse,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Jason now has to use an orthopaedic hospital bed,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27so Effie is forced to sleep on the floor beside him with the children.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31And she's all but given up the idea of sleeping in the same bed
0:05:31 > 0:05:34with her husband again.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Oh, his big bad claws.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39The family are now stuck living like this
0:05:39 > 0:05:43and it's down to Effie to try and hold everything together.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47A few agencies advised me - give up work,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49look after your husband full-time,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52sell your house, go to the council house
0:05:52 > 0:05:56and then you'll be entitled with benefits.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59I am not going to claim benefits.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03I love my job, I love being a nurse.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06It's honourable that Effie wants to continue in the job she loves,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09and to provide for her family herself.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13So there was just no way we could not step in
0:06:13 > 0:06:16and help a family who've suffered such a tragic ordeal,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and have done so much to help other people.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24What is it that you need us to do to this house
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- to make it better for you, Jason? - Toilet.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31A toilet would be important, and downstairs, yes?
0:06:31 > 0:06:32Downstairs.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Or walk-in shower.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- If possible.- AJ...
0:06:37 > 0:06:40AJ and you...that you can play.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42What's the difficulty with that?
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Oh, sweetheart, I know it's been very tough, hasn't it?
0:06:47 > 0:06:50They were very close before.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53And you miss your time playing with AJ?
0:06:53 > 0:06:55And with the English.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57He forgot English,
0:06:57 > 0:07:02so when they talk, AJ doesn't understand what he's trying to say.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It's extraordinary, isn't it?
0:07:04 > 0:07:07And so this...this has caused a barrier between you and AJ,
0:07:07 > 0:07:12so we need to create a space where AJ and Jason can play
0:07:12 > 0:07:13and interact together more.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- Yes, please, if that's possible but...- Well, we'll do our best.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I notice the difficulties with the steps as well,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21very difficult to get in and out of the house.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- Yes, we just live with it. - Just live with it.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26I will make you a promise,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30when you come back to this house, you will have better mobility,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33he'll be safer,
0:07:33 > 0:07:38and you will have space to be able to bond with AJ, OK? I promise.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- Thank you.- Thank you.- Gracias.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46Gracias. It's OK, we can still work in Spanish, it's OK.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48Thank you.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52This is our chance to give the family
0:07:52 > 0:07:55a house which will help rather than hinder them in the future.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- Come over, guys, come and say hello. - Hello!
0:07:58 > 0:08:01And if you don't mind leaving your house in the hands of, er...
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Don't worry!
0:08:04 > 0:08:06We're going to do a good job on it,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09we're going to turn things around and make life a lot easier for you,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11make sure you get out more than once a month,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- and that you can move around the house, yeah?- Thank you.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- BILLY:- You haven't seen it yet!
0:08:19 > 0:08:20On behalf of everyone, sorry.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Last night there was a blizzard and today it's absolutely freezing,
0:08:26 > 0:08:28and yet the trades people of Orpington have not let us down,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30they're here in their droves,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33determined to make a difference for this lovely family.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35And this family can actually have a bit of dignity,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- that's what we're doing, we up for that?- Yeah.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41OK, let's go to it, thanks very much, gentlemen.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43There's not a moment to lose, let's get to work,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Chris is straight in organising the team downstairs.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50So if you want to organise your lads to rip this kitchen out...
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Everybody here knows the family story and it's galvanised them,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56they're working flat-out already.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Billy has a cunning plan for the electrical work.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02I'm going to hand it over to Jeff to organise everything,
0:09:02 > 0:09:04and I'll just be a labourer, how's that?
0:09:04 > 0:09:06No pressure there then, is there?
0:09:06 > 0:09:08No pressure, but much safer for us.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10As ever, Mark's in charge - or thinks he is -
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and he's assigned Jules a very special project.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16We've cleared away last night's snow
0:09:16 > 0:09:20cos we've got to install a wheelchair lift for Jason out front.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23It's a complicated business, but a project like this
0:09:23 > 0:09:26should be a doddle for a builder of Jules' calibre.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28I've got every faith in him.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34All I've been given is that, build a set of steps for a specialist lift
0:09:34 > 0:09:40that's coming from Denmark and being fitted by a group from Belfast.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45So I think I drew the short straw this week with that little job.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Yeah, he's called Mark.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48We're only a couple of hours in
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and we've already demolished half the house.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Well, you can't hang around, can you?
0:09:52 > 0:09:56With a blank canvas, we can start to see the scale of the task ahead.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It's going to be a massive challenge
0:09:58 > 0:10:01to get the house working better for the family in just nine days.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03And that's down to our designer Gabrielle Blackman,
0:10:03 > 0:10:07who's back for more, a glutton for punishment obviously.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Look what all these lovely builders have done -
0:10:10 > 0:10:12they've created a bit of space.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13So what is your plan?
0:10:13 > 0:10:16We've got to make this whole ground floor accessible to Jason.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18At the moment he's....he's in that classic thing
0:10:18 > 0:10:21that happens with people with disabilities -
0:10:21 > 0:10:24he's just trapped in one tiny bit of the house,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27and he's also having to wash in the kitchen,
0:10:27 > 0:10:32which is really horrible for Jason and incredibly upsetting for AJ.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It's, again, it's a small house with a lot to put in it.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38I don't want it to look like a disability adaptation.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I want it to be a house that Effie is really proud of,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43cos she's a sociable person, she works incredibly hard.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46I want her to be able to have all her friends back here
0:10:46 > 0:10:49and be really proud of it, and for it to look like a beautiful home.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Gabby's got some big plans for this three-bedroom terrace.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Her design means we're ripping out the old kitchen
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and building a new timber-frame extension to the rear
0:10:58 > 0:11:01to create a large open plan kitchen, dining and living area
0:11:01 > 0:11:04that the whole family can use together.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07We're creating an all-important wet room and downstairs bedroom
0:11:07 > 0:11:08for the couple,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11giving them a space of their own for the first time since the accident.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The whole downstairs is also going to be levelled,
0:11:14 > 0:11:16so Jason has independent access throughout.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Upstairs, we're giving AJ a custom built bed,
0:11:19 > 0:11:20with reading area underneath.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Isabella will have a nursery of her own
0:11:22 > 0:11:25and the other bedroom, used by Effie's sister and brother-in-law
0:11:25 > 0:11:27while they care for Jason, is going to get a lick of paint.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Out front, we're putting in a new wide front door
0:11:30 > 0:11:32and specialist wheelchair lift
0:11:32 > 0:11:35so Jason will have independent access in and out of the house.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It's a lot of work in just nine days,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40especially in such a small space, and with freezing weather.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Too much actually. We've already had a team on site for over a week,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46prepping everything for us.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Without these guys putting in long hours before we arrived,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50we'd never get the job done.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54It's a deceptively big job and it's been tough from the start.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Along with everything else, the house was riddled with asbestos
0:11:57 > 0:11:59which had to be removed.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01With the concrete foundations now in position,
0:12:01 > 0:12:05we are ready for the timber frame extension which needs to go up today
0:12:05 > 0:12:07to keep the build on track.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09It's time to dance for joy.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Just testing it for...
0:12:11 > 0:12:13- A lot of weight on it now, ain't there?- Yeah.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And the thing is, could do with a building here today.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I'm not sure where the building is.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Really? Ohhh...
0:12:22 > 0:12:25I didn't really want to say cos I know how emotional you get,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27but, erm...
0:12:27 > 0:12:30No, I've lost interest now. There's a vapour trail up in the sky.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33That is going to somewhere hot like Barbados or...
0:12:33 > 0:12:37- There was supposed to be a building turn up on the back of an articulated lorry...- ..or Africa...
0:12:37 > 0:12:40'It's nice to drift off into the sunshine for the moment.'
0:12:41 > 0:12:44OK, relax, come off the beach, come back and join...
0:12:44 > 0:12:45I'm back...
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Put down your Pina Colada. - Where's the building?
0:12:48 > 0:12:51It got stuck on the M20 last night in the snow.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54This is rather bad news.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57The delay with the extension means we are already three hours behind.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00How are we supposed to get this work done in nine days,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02when we're already playing catch-up?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06We'd better smash something up - it's builder's therapy.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08At least out front, we're in good hands.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14- We've got Rodney...- Plonker. - ..Plonker, Rachel, and Sydney.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- The A Team.- Yeah!
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Julian and the A Team seem to be making some headway
0:13:19 > 0:13:21with the stairs for the specialist lift.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Have you worked out all those complicated, erm, like design things
0:13:25 > 0:13:29- that you had on that piece of paper?- Not entirely, no.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34- But you don't think that matters in terms of building it?- Not really.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I like things to grow, you know, evolve, as you're doing it,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- that's the Devon way of doing things.- Is it?
0:13:40 > 0:13:43So you don't start with plans as much as a thought?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45That's right, you work on the thought...
0:13:45 > 0:13:49- And see how...it evolves as you go along.- Yeah, like evolution.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Trouble is that evolution took millions of years,
0:13:52 > 0:13:56and we've only got nine days, well, eight-and-a-half days now, actually.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Our timber frame extension finally shows up
0:14:01 > 0:14:04after being stuck on the motorway in the snow overnight.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- Where do you want them put? - Yeah, just stack them anywhere.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11It's now six hours late, time we just can't afford to lose.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Are you the boss?- Yeah. - You're the big cheese, are you?
0:14:16 > 0:14:18- I'm the Technical Director. - Oh, right, Technical Director!
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Why haven't we got a Technical Director on this? Can I be Technical Director?
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- Do you have to have qualifications to be a Technical Director? - It helps.- I can't be, then.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- That's it, is it? That's the whole thing?- That's the kit, yeah.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32It doesn't look enough really to make an extension the size we want.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33Oh, yeah, you've got enough there.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36And how long do you reckon, then? End of today?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38They'd have it up in a day.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Of course, the kit's no good without the vital instruction manual.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46All right, well, look after those in the normal way we do as builders.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49No problem, boss.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Yeah, perhaps we'd better leave it to the specialists, eh, Mark?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57So what's the ceiling height going to be under that beam?
0:14:57 > 0:14:59With a half a day delay, there's only one thing for it.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It's about time we ALL started to get on with it.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05This house is not going to build itself.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Whilst you've been talking, they've built an extension.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12No, whilst YOU have been talking...
0:15:12 > 0:15:15No, whilst I've been helping carry a steel up, you mean,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18whilst I've been laying a track in order to actually...
0:15:18 > 0:15:22for the workmen.... Who... C'mon. ..helped carry the steel up?
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- Who laid the track for the wheelbarrow?- No...no...
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Thank you very much. Who helped to unload your extension?
0:15:28 > 0:15:29Where have you been? Nowhere!
0:15:29 > 0:15:34- Don't do that...- Nowhere.- He's a grafter.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- Oh, no! What...?!- What!
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Nick "Grafter" Knowles, that's me.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Everyone here is grafting, well, except Mark and Gabby obviously.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44We've been waiting all day for this.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46We're chipping into the time we've lost
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and, thankfully, everything is starting to go according to plan.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52Well, for those who are using one, that is.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56And Julian's stairs for his wheelchair lift is still evolving, the Devonian way.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03It will just be one big solid mass of concrete block and concrete,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06very, very good for the environment.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10We're very eco, us boys, in our building techniques,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14just loads of concrete, fire it in - job done.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Just chuck it all in.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17I love all of you.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19All this work is for a family
0:16:19 > 0:16:22whose lives have been ripped apart by a tragic accident.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24That's my boys.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Yet Effie has refused to give up hope and, through it all,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30she's not only kept the family together,
0:16:30 > 0:16:32but continues her work as a nurse
0:16:32 > 0:16:35in the cardiac unit of her local hospital in Orpington.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38So tell us about Effie,
0:16:38 > 0:16:43what sort of person is she cos I've met with her and chatted to her?
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Effie's great, she's a real delight, absolutely lovely.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50She's like a ray of sunshine when she comes in.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51You'd never think she had problems.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54How well...? You lot actually went over to the Philippines
0:16:54 > 0:16:56to help them come home after the accident.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59When this happened, it was just unbelievable,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01we just couldn't believe what had happened.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05It's a tragedy cos I also know Jason. I worked with him in one ward,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07and the little old ladies said to me,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10"We don't want you to wash us or anything, we want Jason."
0:17:10 > 0:17:13And now he's in this situation where he has to be washed
0:17:13 > 0:17:17and cared for like a baby. It's so you know heart-breaking to see this.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I know he's suffering, and, for Effie to see this, she's just pushing on
0:17:20 > 0:17:24and, you know, trying her level best to do everything and...yeah.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29It must be... It must have pushed her right to the edge
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and, as you say, she seems incredibly bright all the time.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35She's got terrific strength, Effie, terrific strength.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Have you heard the story about when Jason had the accident initially?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43She got him to the hospital and then the neurosurgeon was not available,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46he was in another island doing another operation.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48She rang him up and said, "You've got to come,"
0:17:48 > 0:17:50and he said, "OK, yes, I will come,"
0:17:50 > 0:17:55and then gave Effie a list of equipment and medicines
0:17:55 > 0:17:58that she had to go and buy at the local shops for the operation.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02Jason could have died really if it wasn't for her.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Back at the site, it's getting dark.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08People say builders go home when it gets dark - it's not true you know.
0:18:08 > 0:18:107pm and this lot are still hard at it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- Mark, you're in charge. - I thought you were going to pick me.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18LAUGHTER
0:18:23 > 0:18:25It's been a cracking first day, a lot's happened up here -
0:18:25 > 0:18:27we've stripped this room out,
0:18:27 > 0:18:28there's been a lot of electrics done,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31in fact, Bill is still working away down there
0:18:31 > 0:18:33and so are his mates around the building.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35The interesting thing here is that the bathroom's gone
0:18:35 > 0:18:37and so have the walls that surrounded it,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40new stud walls already going in, that room's been stripped,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43but it's downstairs the big change has happened.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Julian's in the front room on his own, but it's nearly dinner time
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and he tends to get a bit tetchy, so we leave him alone.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Look at the change in here, actually got an extension -
0:18:51 > 0:18:54no roof on yet that will happen - steel, though, has already gone in.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Come through the forest of acrow props
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and meet the amazing people who did this! Top effort, lads.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Really, really good. What a fantastic day
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and what a massive change, and there'll be more of this tomorrow.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- In the meantime, dinner?- Yes. - Let's go.
0:19:10 > 0:19:11Morning, morning, morning,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14just look at the scale of the task we've undertaken!
0:19:14 > 0:19:17We have produced an enormous amount of rubble on this job,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19starting there and running all the way down here,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23and this lovely gentleman has turned up with his grabber to take it all away.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26We must have had 40 blokes in here yesterday
0:19:26 > 0:19:27and about the same again today,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29all chipping in and donating their time.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33You know, people help me out, so what comes around goes around.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Do you know, I'm a big believer in that, the sort of pass-it-on thing,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38just help each other out and it'll come back round to you.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41How is it working with Bill?
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Pretty helpful actually I have to say.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Is he really? Look at his little face all smiling.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Bit more snow, darling. OK.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53We work in any conditions.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55We've already had enough real snow,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58and it didn't stop us the first time.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00This lot are dedicated. Everyone wants to give Effie
0:20:00 > 0:20:04and Jason the chance for a better future.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Despite everything, Effie hasn't given up hope,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09she goes to every one of Jason's appointments
0:20:09 > 0:20:11to learn all she can to make him better,
0:20:11 > 0:20:16and this time they've allowed me to come along and watch too.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18A little bit more, bring your arm across, that's it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22He comes here about once a week, but he needs to do things at home
0:20:22 > 0:20:25to maintain his range of movement and the muscle length
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and, so, Effie is really important for doing that at home.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33But when you think how... How bad was Jason when you first left the Philippines? You were having to...
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Everything, we have to lift him,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38four people to put him in shower and everything.
0:20:38 > 0:20:44He can't move, he can't...not even roll, not even sit...
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- So a massive change then since you started?- Oh, definitely, yeah.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50This is odd, sometimes, because it feels, Jason,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53as if we are talking about you as if you're not here,
0:20:53 > 0:20:54but, of course, you are but...
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Effie almost speaks for you at the moment, doesn't she?
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- How far can he go?- That's a very difficult one to answer.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03How long is a piece of string, isn't it?
0:21:03 > 0:21:06We make small goals and try and achieve them one by one
0:21:06 > 0:21:08and keep moving forward.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10I think you're determined, aren't you, Jason?
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Absolutely determined to get better and to spend...to be more mobile...
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- Mm-mh.- More mobile and spend more time with...
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- AJ and Isabella...- Yeah. - How about me?
0:21:23 > 0:21:26He knows he has no chance of getting away from you!
0:21:27 > 0:21:31That's because Effie is dedicated to pushing Jason forward
0:21:31 > 0:21:34as she longs for the life they used to have together.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Well done. Good.
0:21:36 > 0:21:41But she's had to accept things are different for them now.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43What's been the hardest thing for you
0:21:43 > 0:21:45about having Jason with this injury?
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Someone to talk with.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I just really miss talking to him.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58I miss his real voice, this is not Jason's real voice.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I miss that so much.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- You miss him?- And I miss him.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16- It's a lot to have to deal with, who keeps you going?- God.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22I believe in God, that he's always there, he never left me.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Although, with the accident,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27when they told me that Jason had 72 hours left...
0:22:29 > 0:22:33..I told him, "Give me the miracle, show it to me now, this is the time."
0:22:33 > 0:22:37The doctor told us he will live only if there is miracle.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Effie, that miracle is a lot to do with you
0:22:39 > 0:22:41making them take him into hospital,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44making the hospital put him into intensive care,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46buying the drugs on the way to the hospital
0:22:46 > 0:22:49that actually helped to relieve the clotting.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51You are his miracle.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54When you close your eyes at night, Effie,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57and wish for something, what is it you wish for?
0:23:00 > 0:23:05I wish that...no-one will experience what I have.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13I just wish that God please do not give this to other family,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15leave it with me.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23And wishing one day that Jason will be able to walk again.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Are you angry about what's happened?
0:23:25 > 0:23:30No, I cannot look back, that is the past.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34I have to deal with the present and think about the future.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39You're an amazing woman, Effie, an amazing woman.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41I think if anybody can succeed at it, you will.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45If the new house can equip Effie
0:23:45 > 0:23:48with the tools she needs to keep driving Jason forward,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50it gives her a chance for a future
0:23:50 > 0:23:53rather than just existing day to day.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57To do this, we've got to maximise every square inch of living space,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00we're even taking out the old chimney.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03The whole reason why we've got to get the chimney stack down
0:24:03 > 0:24:07is so that we can turn the wheelchair in the room down below.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Along with creating space,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12we've got to make sure everything is flush for Jason,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15particularly around the front door so he can have easy access
0:24:15 > 0:24:18to his new specialist lift in his wheelchair.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21The trouble is Julian's just spotted the floor level inside
0:24:21 > 0:24:24is a different height than out front.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Shouldn't we be working this platform to come out at...?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Yes, this needs to be level with that.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Yeah, well, it hasn't been worked out to be.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35All the dimensions are from this hard point and this.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42- Where the platform lands, it really wants to land at floor level.- Yep.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43When I looked at it yesterday,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46I thought, "It's going to be a nightmare, that is."
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Everybody just says, "Oh, yes, just drop a set of steps in,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52"put up a specialist lift that's coming from Denmark."
0:24:52 > 0:24:54I've never done one before in my life.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Sounds so simple, but really it isn't.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02Let's go and have a brew and ponder and, er, evolve and organinate.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06You've got to admire him, he's so creative with the language.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08"Organinate" - what kind of word is that?
0:25:08 > 0:25:11He's a hell of a builder and a poet, didn't you know it?
0:25:11 > 0:25:14With the build moving on at this speed, decisions have to be made
0:25:14 > 0:25:19and made fast and, in my book, that means made by me predominantly.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22We decided this wall was causing more problems than benefits,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25the bath is 1,700 wide, the gap in here is exactly 1,700 wide.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27That means it's too tight because,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30by the time you've plastered or done anything to it, it's too tight,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34- so better to take it down as it's only a single skin, yes?- Yes.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38- Then re-build it a little bit further...- Just a smidge this way.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40A little this way.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42A bit more demolition but, you know,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45we haven't quite finished knocking things down yet,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48we need to start building things soon, don't we?
0:25:48 > 0:25:49With the timescale as tight as this,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51I haven't got time to go running to Gabby
0:25:51 > 0:25:55whenever we make a minor change to her precious design layout.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58I'm sure she won't make a fuss anyway.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02What's going on? What is going on!
0:26:02 > 0:26:05My heart rate has just gone right... Seriously, what's going on?
0:26:05 > 0:26:08We took the wall out because it was a bit wobbly.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Plus the bath was too tight, the wall was only 1,700 wide,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12the bath was 1,700 wide, it's too tight...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14No, the bath was... I've ordered a special sized bath.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16What size of bath did you order?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19We ordered a 1,600 bath.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21LAUGHTER
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Unbelievable. You told us it was a 1,700 bath.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26We just needed to borrow 20mm off of here
0:26:26 > 0:26:29and you could have had a proper full-sized bath.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32The wall was going to stay cos, as far as I knew, it was sound,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35and we would just get a slightly smaller bath.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37We'll put the wall back up where you want it,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39we'll make sure there's enough room for a 1,700 bath
0:26:39 > 0:26:41so that grown-ups can have a bath in it, happy now?
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- Now, can you just stop interfering though, really?- Helping.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48- No, no, you're really irritating me. - Helping...blue sky thinking.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50OK, fair's fair. I admit this may have been a case
0:26:50 > 0:26:54where it MIGHT have been better to ask Gabby before I went steaming in.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Out front, it's a different story, no-one's steaming in there.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02In fact, work has all but ground to a halt on Jules' special lift.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04- How's your hole going, Julian? - Got rubble in it.
0:27:04 > 0:27:10- Little bit of a problem, we're working the increments of the stairs out.- Right.- Any good at maths?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13No, I had a mate who was a mathematician. He got constipation,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- in the end worked it out with a pencil.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Have you ever made any stairs, Millar?
0:27:20 > 0:27:22- Yeah, I've done stairs. - Well, you come here then.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Oh, don't put him in it. How is this going to improve things?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27He's made stairs.
0:27:27 > 0:27:32- We need to work out from that point where that orange brick is.- Yes.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Welcome to stair talk,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39a weekly programme where people get together to talk about risers.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- ..910. Divided by- 6. You've got another step here, remember.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Look at them, look at them, look at them all, look.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Come up 90, come up 90.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51That makes six of them and they're trying to divide 191 by 6,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55what they could do is go and get a load of Smarties and just hand them out one at a time to each other
0:27:55 > 0:27:57until they've worked it out.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59If we've got six steps at 90mm increments,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02that's 540 plus a top step...
0:28:04 > 0:28:05You what!
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- He's a genius. - Couldn't make it up, could you?
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Seriously.- Oh, my God, yeah, I don't understand it.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Did you notice it got dark during the time of that conversation?
0:28:17 > 0:28:19That's how long it took.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Despite everything, we are making progress.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Time to do some roofing. That will keep the weather out.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33My name's Clive, this is Brian, and this is Dave.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37What I like most is you're all wearing collars, look.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40- We're smart, aren't we? - The smartest roofers in town.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- We're the posh gang.- Is that right? - Yeah.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45We've a landscaping team coming in today to look at the back garden.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47So, in preparation, we've used it as a junk yard
0:28:47 > 0:28:50and main access for 60 builders and materials.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56This, if I'm not mistaken, is a gardening team, a landscaper...
0:28:56 > 0:28:58- Oh, hello.- Allegedly. - What's your name?- Tony.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02- Tony, and who have you got here? - I'm Daniel.- Daniel...- And I'm Ed.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04- Do you like what we did with the place for you?- Lovely start.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08- Ain't it?- Lovely start, like the Somme when I arrived this morning.
0:29:08 > 0:29:09It's not going to get any better,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12it's going to rain for the next two days and be freezing cold.
0:29:12 > 0:29:13Why don't you cheer me up?
0:29:13 > 0:29:16The key thing for us is mobility and access.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20He can't lift his feet more than about 20mm with his walking,
0:29:20 > 0:29:24but we do want him to be able to get in and out of his own accord,
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- so everything's got to be flush and easy access.- Yes, it will be.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33The garden is going to be completely redesigned with a large patio area
0:29:33 > 0:29:37which will be flush with the ground floor for easy access.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Along with this, we're creating a wheelchair-friendly pathway
0:29:40 > 0:29:43so Jason can move around the whole area.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47We're turfing the rest and putting a shed in and a water feature for AJ.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51Is that our lovely wet room thing?
0:29:51 > 0:29:53- Yep.- Oh, fantastic.
0:29:53 > 0:29:54Inside the electrics are almost in.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Two...
0:29:56 > 0:29:57four...
0:29:58 > 0:29:59..six...
0:29:59 > 0:30:01eight.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04He's used superglue instead of underarm deodorant again, hasn't he?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08- We need nine. - Oh, I was only one out.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11Now Chris and his vast team of plasterers can start boarding
0:30:11 > 0:30:14out and plastering the downstairs.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16And after a night of head scratching,
0:30:16 > 0:30:21Julian's once seemingly simple task is finally coming together,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23and he's just got a bit of finishing up to do,
0:30:23 > 0:30:27but he's feeling rather lonely this morning without his mates.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- Have you got any friends working with you today? How many?- 17.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Well, could you not spare one to come out
0:30:34 > 0:30:36and stand with me or something?
0:30:36 > 0:30:40They're all busy, unfortunately. OK, mate, see you later.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43That wasn't very caring, was it?
0:30:43 > 0:30:45The place is abuzz with activity today,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48well apart from Jules' area, admittedly.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Look. One room down, seven to go.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Chris is in his element. You can't move for plasterers.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- This is Pat and his boys. Say hello!- Hello.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- That's good news, isn't it? - What's that?
0:31:04 > 0:31:06I just got another plasterer for Chris.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07You quite happy working with Chris?
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Great, he's got 17 mates in there, so you can be his 18th.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14We're good together. We're good together.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Oh, poor old Jules. He's going to get a complex.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21How's Billy-No-Mates out there, all right?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23It's unbelievable this is.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Yeah, that's going to help, Billy, thanks a lot.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30On a busy site like this, where often up to 50 trades
0:31:30 > 0:31:33a day are turning up, not to mention the deliveries and noise,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37we rely so much on the goodwill of the local community
0:31:37 > 0:31:39- and their cakes.- Ooooh!
0:31:39 > 0:31:41Thank you very much.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43He does look like a 1970s anchor-man, newsreader,
0:31:43 > 0:31:45- don't you think?- Thank you very much.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Thanks, princess, that's gorgeous.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49Go on, Gabby, lick my face.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53Neighbours Bob and Jean have been here 40 years and knew Effie
0:31:53 > 0:31:55and Jason before the accident.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Sorry about all the noise and mess going on and toing and froing
0:31:58 > 0:32:01with vans and lorries, we're not disturbing you too much, are we?
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- No, not at all.- Sure?- Yeah.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Tell us about Jason before he had the accident?
0:32:06 > 0:32:10- Lovely, lovely man.- Is he? - Mm.- It seems that Jason
0:32:10 > 0:32:12and Effie are properly loved by people around here.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16- They are, they are.- People have no reason not to like them,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18because they are lovely people.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20Well, they all work up the hospital,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22the whole family work up the hospital.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25- They deserve it, you know.- That's really nice, thank you very much.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Because everything is against them
0:32:27 > 0:32:30including getting from their front door up there.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34I mean, if you'd seen what was going on trying to get him up there,
0:32:34 > 0:32:39you know, and then they've tried to walk him round, and he can't do it.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41It's so great that Bob and Jean,
0:32:41 > 0:32:44along with everybody around here has been so supportive,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48just as well given the scale of the job outside in the back garden.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51How long would you normally spend doing a job like this?
0:32:51 > 0:32:52Two and a half weeks.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55Two and a half weeks and you've got about four or five days to do it in.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59We have and we'll get it done as long as it doesn't pour with
0:32:59 > 0:33:01rain every day.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07This is England. Of course it's going to rain.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13There we go, see, what did I say?
0:33:13 > 0:33:17This is the last thing we need. The garden team are literally up
0:33:17 > 0:33:18to their knees in mud.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21It's like Glastonbury without the music.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25It's not the weather to be doing this.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29And inside, the wet weather is causing problems too.
0:33:29 > 0:33:30All the rooms done upstairs last night bar
0:33:30 > 0:33:34a couple of walls in the hallway, which is brilliant, but nothing
0:33:34 > 0:33:37dried, absolutely nothing dried. It's just completely soaking wet.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40At this stage, we should be putting paint in the house and stuff.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43There's no-one to blame, it's just the nature of the game,
0:33:43 > 0:33:45you know, the weather is against us.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48I can genuinely say we're behind.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51With the clock ticking, the garden team are going to have to
0:33:51 > 0:33:53carry on despite the weather.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56Jules even has a special tent to keep his beloved steps dry.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02The Orpington trades are giving it everything they've got to get
0:34:02 > 0:34:05the house finished for the family, but really and honestly, with
0:34:05 > 0:34:09only a couple of days left, it's starting to become a real worry.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Before the accident, both AJ and is dad were inseparable
0:34:14 > 0:34:18and would love to spend time going out to theme parks together.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22- Shall we go and see the lions now? - Yeah, we're going now.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Life with a child on the autistic spectrum like AJ is
0:34:26 > 0:34:28challenging enough.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31AJ needs constant attention
0:34:31 > 0:34:35and it's been up to Effie to do this alone since the tragedy.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38The thing is that's why they've got the glass and the fence, AJ.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- We're not allowed there AJ. - Look, AJ.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Oh, look, oh, look.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47That means that days out as a family just don't happen anymore.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Well done, AJ, come on.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54So, today, Billy has come along to help Effie with Jason and AJ.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- Which boat do you want to go, which one? The red one?- Yeah.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03You've picked a very lucky boat here, the Titanic.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Got to hold on tight, you ready.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09All those things that AJ and Jason did together as father and son
0:35:09 > 0:35:14have been taken away, and their relationship has been torn apart.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16AJ's autism meant he had a devastating reaction
0:35:16 > 0:35:18to Jason's accident.
0:35:18 > 0:35:24AJ stopped talking. Two weeks not a single word, not even "Mum",
0:35:24 > 0:35:26not even "Yes", not even "No."
0:35:26 > 0:35:30One night he started screaming...
0:35:30 > 0:35:33and he was just screaming for three weeks.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Today AJ is still coming to terms with what has happened
0:35:37 > 0:35:40to his dad, and it's not helped by the fact Jason's
0:35:40 > 0:35:43brain haemorrhage has prevented him from talking to his son
0:35:43 > 0:35:45like he used to.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Hi!
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Bye!
0:35:49 > 0:35:53So four years you've been coming here.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56What does it feel like now seeing AJ back here?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Good. Good.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01Do you remember much of Chessington Zoo?
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Just a little bit? Well, hopefully some of what we're doing today will
0:36:04 > 0:36:08just rekindle some of the thoughts of you and AJ and Effie,
0:36:08 > 0:36:12and with us doing the house and everything for you
0:36:12 > 0:36:15it will take a lot of stress away from you, and then you can have
0:36:15 > 0:36:17more time with the family.
0:36:17 > 0:36:23I mean, Effie's doing the rides with AJ and when Isabella gets older
0:36:23 > 0:36:26hopefully you'll be back on the rides with them.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28Does Effie like cooking?
0:36:28 > 0:36:29Cooking, hmm.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32What we'll do, Effie can cook a meal and I'll bring my wife down
0:36:32 > 0:36:34and we'll have a nice meal.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37It's a nice kitchen, but that's our secret,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- I'm not telling you anything else. - No, no.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Anyway, we're here to do our best for you,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and it's a privilege to be here doing it for you.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49And now I'm getting emotional, you lovely man.
0:36:50 > 0:36:51Thank you.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55Oh, it's a pleasure. It's a pleasure.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05You know, it's a difficult balance for Gabby to design a house
0:37:05 > 0:37:08which meets both AJ and Jason's particular needs,
0:37:08 > 0:37:11but she's determined to get it right, which is why she's involved
0:37:11 > 0:37:13some specialist help.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16- This lady has come along from the... - Kent Association for the Blind.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20..to give us an idea of what it is that Jason's able to see.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23Gail's brought along a pair of glasses which simulates how
0:37:23 > 0:37:26Jason currently sees the world. As a result of the accident,
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Jason has lost a significant amount of his eyesight
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and he now suffers from acute tunnel vision.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Yeah, you have to be really precise, don't you,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37to actually find something and do something.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39You think that you're looking in front all the time,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42but in actual fact you're taking so much information around you
0:37:42 > 0:37:45to avoid things when you're walking and things like that.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48- I found that a bit of a shock. - How do you think you'd manage
0:37:48 > 0:37:49on a sort of day-to-day basis like that?
0:37:49 > 0:37:53Just couldn't do half the stuff, could you, really, even less.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56We certainly couldn't do what we do work-wise.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58I wouldn't like to go through life like that.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01No, it's extraordinary, isn't it? Absolutely extraordinary.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04On top of having tunnel vision, the biggest single challenge
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Jason faces to his independence is having to wash
0:38:07 > 0:38:10and use a makeshift commode in the corner of the kitchen.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14But the new ground floor wet room is going to change all that.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16Basically, it's an all singing all dancing.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19It will wash and dry at the same time.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Expensive, these bits of kit?
0:38:22 > 0:38:26Relative to the cost of a carer, not very.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28That's a very good point, actually.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31- That's going to make a huge difference, isn't it?- Sure is.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32I think it gets BBC Four as well(!)
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Does it really?!
0:38:35 > 0:38:38And talking of wet rooms, there's a great big one out the back,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42but unfortunately this one hasn't got a plughole.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46What we're going to have to do is lay a scaffold board across,
0:38:46 > 0:38:50walk it and keep rolling the board down to push the water off,
0:38:50 > 0:38:51- hopefully.- Right.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53But that's the only way we're going to get rid of it,
0:38:53 > 0:38:57it can't say like that and just sit in the holes.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Believe it or not, this mud patch needs to be a garden,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and we only have a day left to do it.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14It's the final day and as ever it's over to the wonderful Gabrielle
0:39:14 > 0:39:16to get everything in and finished.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22It's lovely in here. I think you've done an amazing job
0:39:22 > 0:39:24and your choice of colours are incredible,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26but then you're always very good at this kind of thing, aren't you,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29and especially on the last day where you really come into your own
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and just drive the thing through to an amazing finish.
0:39:34 > 0:39:35I'm braced for an insult now.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37No. Tell you what,
0:39:37 > 0:39:41if you do well you can have one by the end of the day, all right?
0:39:41 > 0:39:45A classic case of carrot and stick motivational technique there,
0:39:45 > 0:39:48I think you'll agree. Textbook.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Jules' wheelchair lift is really starting to look the business now,
0:39:51 > 0:39:53and after probably the most confusing week he's ever had
0:39:53 > 0:39:55it's almost done.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58And it's time for the inaugural christening of his creation.
0:39:58 > 0:39:59As a reward...
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Here he comes. ..he gets to test it first.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05Look at that. Very lovely.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08- Am I allowed, Howard? - Please, carry on.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10That's it, thank you very much, I'm glad...
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Look at his little face!
0:40:16 > 0:40:18I know what's going through his head. He's going,
0:40:18 > 0:40:22"I wonder whether I could install this at my house."
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Howard, look, we really appreciate you getting involved
0:40:24 > 0:40:27and helping us out with this, and he did all right, did he, our Julian?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Fantastic. The boys have been great.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33It's a miracle, but it's not the only one that's happened around
0:40:33 > 0:40:37here, the team in the garden have been walking on water this week.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40As long as it doesn't rain too heavy later today,
0:40:40 > 0:40:43these boys are in danger of actually pulling this off,
0:40:43 > 0:40:46which would be something of a small miracle.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48Got to love them, haven't you?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Unstoppable.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53At this stage it's impossible to imagine the house as it
0:40:53 > 0:40:55was before, which is great for us,
0:40:55 > 0:40:58but for Effie's son AJ who's been diagnosed with
0:40:58 > 0:41:02autistic spectrum disorder this kind of extreme change can be
0:41:02 > 0:41:03incredibly distressing.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06We just don't know how he's going to react to the new house,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10so Gabby's hoping to try and smooth this difficult transition.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12So, AJ, whose house do you think that is?
0:41:12 > 0:41:14AJ's.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16What do you think's happening there?
0:41:16 > 0:41:20Erm... It's all dirty.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22At the moment it looks a bit dirty,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25but we're going to make it look really shiny and new.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28AJ's behaviour has been up and down since the accident, so the more
0:41:28 > 0:41:32we can make the house a safe stable place for him the better.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34I mean, at the moment we're going through a bit of a bad patch
0:41:34 > 0:41:38with him. You know, I said that he wasn't hitting himself,
0:41:38 > 0:41:41hitting his head, but he does have these tantrums back again,
0:41:41 > 0:41:47so hopefully once that place becomes a home again and settled
0:41:47 > 0:41:51then we'll have an AJ who's willing to work in the classroom.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55He's on the autistic spectrum, but he's doing incredibly well.
0:41:55 > 0:42:00Oh, very well. He's coping with change, as long as he's had the...
0:42:00 > 0:42:04what we've talked about, the preparation and the pre-warning.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Brilliant. So what is AJ into at the moment?
0:42:07 > 0:42:10He still likes his trains, he always has had liked trains.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12And books, loves books.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16Although his house that he loved is going to be very different,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19but hopefully in a way that he will be excited about.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22I am worried, and it's such a lot of change so quickly.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26And this change is happening before our eyes.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29The trades of Orpington have overcome every obstacle that's
0:42:29 > 0:42:32been thrown at them this week, and they're still going strong.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36It's the final push and at this stage you can start to see
0:42:36 > 0:42:39the results of all this hard work. Incredible.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43One of the best experiences I've had.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46- Really? - Yeah, definitely. It's brilliant.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48That's a thumbs up, then.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50Don't sound so surprised.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54I must say, Gabby is staying remarkably calm today.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57SHE GROANS
0:42:57 > 0:42:59Yeah, that's more like it.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02If it's not a TV I don't want it.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04No, it looks like a glass table.
0:43:04 > 0:43:09So someone has mistaken the black shiny table for a black shiny TV.
0:43:11 > 0:43:15And as evening falls on the final day, everything's really starting
0:43:15 > 0:43:18to look lovely. What a transformation.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21I cannot believe you've pulled this off, in this weather this week.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Incredible.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26If I was to stand in the middle of that lawn I'd sink, wouldn't I?
0:43:26 > 0:43:28By about eight inches, probably.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31It's literally like a skin on a rice pudding,
0:43:31 > 0:43:33but it will dry out fine, won't it?
0:43:33 > 0:43:36It will. It'll be quite quick as long as we get the good spring weather.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38I'm chuffed to bits and in awe of you and your team
0:43:38 > 0:43:41that you've managed to keep going through the terrible weather
0:43:41 > 0:43:43and the terrible conditions to create this.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47- It's been a pleasure.- A very cold, wet pleasure.- Yes.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54Just nine days ago we arrived to find a family in crisis.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58I wish that no-one will experience what I have.
0:43:58 > 0:44:02Jason's tragic accident has left cardiac nurse Effie and her family
0:44:02 > 0:44:07facing a future in a house totally ill-equipped for their needs.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11It's a situation we could never have solved on our own,
0:44:11 > 0:44:15and it's only with the monumental help of the Orpington trades
0:44:15 > 0:44:17and suppliers we've managed to do it.
0:44:17 > 0:44:20We've knocked through and completely opened up the downstairs
0:44:20 > 0:44:23to create this open plan kitchen/diner living space
0:44:23 > 0:44:26which the whole family can use together.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28The dark coloured flooring, door surrounds
0:44:28 > 0:44:31and kitchen surfaces contrast with the white units and walls
0:44:31 > 0:44:35which not only gives the whole space a contemporary feel,
0:44:35 > 0:44:39it helps Jason see the different parts of the room more clearly.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43The level floor throughout the downstairs continues out to the
0:44:43 > 0:44:48front where Jason has access to his new specialist wheelchair lift.
0:44:48 > 0:44:53And out to the rear through these beautiful bi-fold doors into the new
0:44:53 > 0:44:57garden, which has been completely redesigned for wheelchair use.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00Above all else the aim of this build was to solve
0:45:00 > 0:45:04the problem of Jason having to wash in the kitchen, to give him
0:45:04 > 0:45:07back some dignity. To do this, we've created a stunning wet room
0:45:07 > 0:45:09with the all singing all dancing loo.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13And off it a ground floor master bedroom suite,
0:45:13 > 0:45:16so the couple can be together again.
0:45:16 > 0:45:20Upstairs, AJ's room is a calming space with his handmade bed
0:45:20 > 0:45:23and reading area underneath where he can retreat to
0:45:23 > 0:45:26if things get too much for him.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29Isabella now has her own nursery,
0:45:29 > 0:45:33and we've spruced up the third bedroom where Effie's sister stays
0:45:33 > 0:45:34when she helps out with Jason.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38The old bathroom and toilet have been transformed
0:45:38 > 0:45:41with stunning tiling throughout.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44You know, the real challenge of this build was to give the family
0:45:44 > 0:45:49a house in which Jason could do more himself, which in turn, hopefully,
0:45:49 > 0:45:53will help start AJ to re-build his relationship with his dad.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57Above all, I'm really hoping the new house will equip Effie
0:45:57 > 0:46:01with the tools she needs to give her family a better future.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05Right. Open your eyes.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10Oh!
0:46:10 > 0:46:13Oh, my God!
0:46:15 > 0:46:17This is our house!
0:46:20 > 0:46:22Thanks.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24Ohh!
0:46:32 > 0:46:35- Pretty cool, huh? - It's beautiful.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39But the main thing is that the surface here is all the same.
0:46:39 > 0:46:40Yeah, it's all one level.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43And it's the same all the way through the ground floor.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45Oh, wow.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49No excuse now for you.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51It doesn't look the same house.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55OK, this is your new living room area.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57OK, wow!
0:46:57 > 0:47:00With your television there is now a games console that has
0:47:00 > 0:47:04hand-held controllers, so you can sit here with AJ
0:47:04 > 0:47:08and with your good hand you can play these games.
0:47:09 > 0:47:10Thank you.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13Now there is one other thing I'd like to show you whilst we're here
0:47:13 > 0:47:17in the ground floor piece, which Jason has already seen,
0:47:17 > 0:47:21but will be a bit of a surprise for you. Come with me a second.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24We've actually created a new access point here,
0:47:24 > 0:47:27which is really important because of what's outside,
0:47:27 > 0:47:30so I'm just going to open the doors and let you take a look.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33Oh, my God.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36Pretty cool, huh?
0:47:38 > 0:47:41- Is that a....? - Yeah.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48It's cool, huh?
0:47:48 > 0:47:52You can go out now, love. It's amazing.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58Oh, thank you for giving back his life.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02You'll be safe now.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06It's too much.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10But that's only about half of it, we have more to show you.
0:48:14 > 0:48:15Oh...
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Double bed... for you and me.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36This is beautiful.
0:48:36 > 0:48:39How much does this really mean to be able to actually have a bed
0:48:39 > 0:48:42back together that you can actually sleep in?
0:48:42 > 0:48:46It's a dream.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49I start dreaming to sleep with him again
0:48:49 > 0:48:51on our ten years wedding anniversary.
0:48:51 > 0:48:57A friend of mine gave us a one night hotel
0:48:57 > 0:49:00with a disabled access,
0:49:00 > 0:49:05and that's the first time I hugged him again for such a long time.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09You said to me the other day that you miss him.
0:49:09 > 0:49:10I really, really miss him.
0:49:10 > 0:49:15That stuck with me, so now... now you can cuddle up again.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18This is your new bathroom.
0:49:20 > 0:49:25Oh, my God. Oh, my goodness!
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Shower!
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Wow, love, look.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38Essentially, what this is is a toilet that you can get to yourself
0:49:38 > 0:49:42and be left on. At the point that you're finished,
0:49:42 > 0:49:46it will wash you and will dry you.
0:49:46 > 0:49:48Oh, my God.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51It's important for your self-respect and dignity that you actually
0:49:51 > 0:49:54were back in control of this part of your life.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56- It's good? - Good.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58You can say it in Spanish if you want
0:50:00 > 0:50:02Gracias.
0:50:02 > 0:50:07You guys just gave us times one million more than we asked.
0:50:07 > 0:50:12We only asked shower and toilet downstairs, and look, we've got
0:50:12 > 0:50:15shower, we've got toilet, we've got bedroom, we've got everything.
0:50:15 > 0:50:19There's only one rule... no selling it.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22Oh, no. Not in a million years.
0:50:22 > 0:50:26We will get old here with our grandkids, I promise.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28It's built with love and care
0:50:28 > 0:50:32and that's the most important in this world. It's priceless.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36Do you want to see upstairs?
0:50:36 > 0:50:40You will never need to go up there again because you are independent
0:50:40 > 0:50:44downstairs, but do you want to go upstairs to see them this one time?
0:50:44 > 0:50:47In which case I will have to help you on the stairs to get you
0:50:47 > 0:50:49up there, is that OK?
0:50:49 > 0:50:51One, two, three up. Good.
0:50:51 > 0:50:56I've got you. And one, two, three, up we come. Good.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59OK, this is AJ's room
0:51:00 > 0:51:03Oh, my goodness...
0:51:05 > 0:51:07Oh, AJ.
0:51:10 > 0:51:16This is AJ. This is him - water, train, books.
0:51:16 > 0:51:17Yeah.
0:51:17 > 0:51:22He is going to sit here and just read all those books.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26This is perfect, love.
0:51:26 > 0:51:27It's beautiful, he won't come out
0:51:27 > 0:51:33from this room. Once we hand over it now we're going to struggle.
0:51:33 > 0:51:34Shall we go and see Isabella's room?
0:51:34 > 0:51:38Yes, please. Yes, please, yes, please.
0:51:40 > 0:51:42Oh!
0:51:42 > 0:51:45Oh, my!
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Birds!
0:51:57 > 0:52:00You all right?
0:52:00 > 0:52:01I was actually dreaming that
0:52:01 > 0:52:05because I got a girl, I'm going to make her a girlie room,
0:52:05 > 0:52:10when we come back from that holiday,
0:52:10 > 0:52:12and then it didn't happen.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16Remember, we were planning to make her a room.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22So has Gabrielle got it right?
0:52:22 > 0:52:27She did a great job in this, in the whole house.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30The design - wow.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34How did she know that Isabella loves birds?
0:52:39 > 0:52:41Wow.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Oh, wow.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59Is this what you needed? This house?
0:52:59 > 0:53:04It's more than I needed. It's actually like a fairy tale house.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07You see, I still believe in fairy tales.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10I think I can understand why you wouldn't after what's gone on,
0:53:10 > 0:53:14but you know, good things can happen.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18There's still good people around, and you wouldn't expect.
0:53:18 > 0:53:19Yeah, but that's the thing, you see,
0:53:19 > 0:53:22you two are both good people who looked after people and took care
0:53:22 > 0:53:27of people, and that's why people want to help now that you need help.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29There's lots of amazing people that have done this,
0:53:29 > 0:53:32you get a chance to meet them in a little while.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34- Amazing.- Right, children, so, what are they going to think
0:53:34 > 0:53:36when they see their rooms?
0:53:36 > 0:53:39- Oh, AJ is going to be... - Happy.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41- You think? - Sure.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43- Knock-knock.- Wow!
0:53:43 > 0:53:47All mine! What a surprise!
0:53:47 > 0:53:50Wow!
0:53:50 > 0:53:51That's your new bed.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55Yeah! Ooh! What's this? AJ!
0:53:55 > 0:53:59- Yeah, AJ. - AJ's house.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06Oh, wow! Look! This is Isabella's room.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08Right, we've got one more part to show you.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11So we need to get everyone downstairs.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26Oh, my God!
0:54:28 > 0:54:30- What do you think? - Good.
0:54:30 > 0:54:31Yes.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36- He likes the water feature, look. - Yeah, he loves water.
0:54:36 > 0:54:39Shall I bring in your sister and brother-in-law just to help out
0:54:39 > 0:54:42inside for a little while and keep AJ busy and happy and...
0:54:42 > 0:54:45If it's all right with you, I'll get you to come outside and meet
0:54:45 > 0:54:47with some of the builders that have been doing the work.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50- We would love to. - You happy, Jason?
0:54:50 > 0:54:51Is the house OK?
0:55:04 > 0:55:07SHE CRIES
0:55:34 > 0:55:36Would you explain to everybody here why that was
0:55:36 > 0:55:40so emotional seeing Jason use the lift.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43We always struggle to go out,
0:55:43 > 0:55:46and we always wanted to go out as a family...
0:55:48 > 0:55:54..but it's so hard with Jason and me, I can't lift him all the time.
0:55:57 > 0:56:02Guys, thank you so much for making this possible.
0:56:10 > 0:56:14AJ, obviously, like, there are moments when he's excited
0:56:14 > 0:56:16about something and it's very difficult to deflect him in his way
0:56:16 > 0:56:18of thinking.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20Plainly he's got something inside there that's exciting him
0:56:20 > 0:56:24a great deal. He's just not interested in coming out,
0:56:24 > 0:56:28he wants to stay in his bedroom. What does he think of his bedroom?
0:56:28 > 0:56:34Guys, that is AJ. Gabby, thank you so much.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37And Isabella, who loves birds,
0:56:37 > 0:56:39she wants to know how you knew that she loves birds because...
0:56:39 > 0:56:41How did you know that she loves birds?
0:56:41 > 0:56:44- You told me, my darling, you told me.- Oh, did I? I forgot.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48The key thing, of course, for us was for Jason.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51He wanted to have a space where he could re-bond with his son,
0:56:51 > 0:56:55and Isabella, too of, course, cos he felt since the accident that they'd
0:56:55 > 0:57:01become separated, so by having a flat walk-through whole downstairs
0:57:01 > 0:57:04he can move around himself and he can re-engage with the family.
0:57:04 > 0:57:08- Is it a good house? - Good house.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10- You happy? - Happy.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13Thank you so much.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16APPLAUSE
0:57:28 > 0:57:31Everybody, here's AJ.
0:57:37 > 0:57:40Effie said the most extraordinary thing to me when I was chatting
0:57:40 > 0:57:43to her in the middle of the week. She said "I miss him,"
0:57:43 > 0:57:45which is strange considering Jason is, of course, still there
0:57:45 > 0:57:48but because of the brain injury
0:57:48 > 0:57:51they don't even speak the same language anymore.
0:57:51 > 0:57:55He can't move around the house, he can't interact with AJ, his son,
0:57:55 > 0:57:58which means so much to him, and they can't even sleep in the
0:57:58 > 0:57:59same bed together.
0:57:59 > 0:58:03Or rather, they couldn't, because that's all changed now.
0:58:03 > 0:58:07Thanks to these people he can now assume those responsibilities as
0:58:07 > 0:58:11a father that mean so much to him, and finally as a couple they can
0:58:11 > 0:58:14get back in the same bed and sleep together and cuddle up at night.
0:58:14 > 0:58:18That's what's happened here, that's what a community can do.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20That's what you could do for somebody.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23Maybe you know somebody who needs your help.