DIY SOS viewers were left reaching for the tissues as they watched a family’s life transform after years of struggle. Host Nick Knowles headed to Corby to meet Colin, Jackie and their three children. The couple met as teenagers and welcomed their first son Jordan as Jackie turned 18. She explained how Jordan was born two weeks […]
DIY SOS viewers were left reaching for the tissues as they watched a family’s life transform after years of struggle.
Host Nick Knowles headed to Corby to meet Colin, Jackie and their three children.
The couple met as teenagers and welcomed their first son Jordan as Jackie turned 18.
She explained how Jordan was born two weeks late and were not allowed to even hold their baby for weeks as he faced complications.
After 18 months of knowing something was not right with her son and trying to convince medical professionals, Jordan was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect muscle control, movement and coordination.
It’s usually caused by a problem with the brain that occurs before, during or after birth.
He’s lived a great life with a happy spirit, and is well known in his community for fundraising money for other children’s charities.
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The teen – who also has epilepsy – is completely dependent on his parents because he can’t use his hands for anything.
He only wants his mum Jackie to shower him and take him to the toilet which means the parents have never had a break.
The couple tried to extend their house to accommodate their growing family and needed £60,000 to make it suitable for Jordan’s needs.
But Simon had to give up his career to help care for Jordan and their money eventually ran out before they were forced to move in with Jackie’s mum.
The kids slept with their parents and Jordan had to make do with an air bed.
Colin and Jackie’s house sat empty with renovations barely completed, rendering it unliveable.
But an army of hundreds of volunteers, including 35 plasterers, offered their support to make sure the house would be finished for them to move in within nine days.
Many of the volunteers explained they knew how much Jordan was a popular member of his community and had done a lot of charity work.
Others also had disabled children and knew how important having an accessible home would be.
Nick first brought Colin and Jackie into the house to show them the remarkable transformation, including toilets that clean, so Jordan could gain some independence.
They also burst into tears seeing the pool room built for the teen, who learnt to walk using a pool table and it was the one thing he wanted in the house above all else.
Jordan’s room was fitted with everything he needed without “looking medical”, including electronic curtains he could open with the push of a button.
His siblings, Kyle and Lacey, also got their own bedrooms for the first time ever.
Kyle started crying at seeing his own space, as their parents praised their children for being really big helps with Jordan.
After touring their new home, the family went to meet the hundreds of volunteers out on the street.
“Before you guys came our lives were a mess, the past 12 months have been horrendous,” Jackie told them.
“You have no idea what you’ve done, what you’ve done to change our lives.”
Jordan added, as the volunteers wiped tears from their eyes: “Now I can do stuff more independently and do more stuff without mum or dad’s help… thank you so much.”
People were very emotional watching the show and felt elated for the family.
“Love this programme. The efforts and hard work from every one of the volunteer individuals to pull together as a team is utterly inspiring. You have my utmost respect. Applaud you Lots of love to you and your family Jordan. You’re ace,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
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Another added: “This #diysos is gearing up to be a proper tearjerker. Spectacularly great kids.”
And a third wrote: “Bless him, Jordan’s, gonna be in heaven once the build/renovation’s completed! Absolute godsend!”
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