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The Big Build - West Bromwich

DIY SOS Series 29

With a family stuck in a tiny home, unable to deal with their grief, the team and West Bromwich volunteers step in to help Sandra keep the family together.

In West Bromwich, Crystal Chambers, a mother of two young children, visited her local GP and hospital on numerous occasions over two years and was left undiagnosed before finally being admitted in 2015. Upon admission to hospital, Crystal was suddenly given the devastating news that she had advanced stomach cancer, which had spread to her spine. Tragically, Crystal passed away a few weeks later, aged 32. Her children, eight-year-old Deago and four-year-old Ameira, were left potentially without a home as well as a mother.

It was therefore left to Crystal's mother Sandra, who has dedicated her entire life to working with families in crisis, and Crystal's 19-year-old brother Ziggy, who is in full-time education, to take the children into their tiny two-bedroom home.

As a result, Sandra, Deago and Ameira share one small bedroom, with a double bed, a camp bed and a toddler bed squeezed in. They don't have room for proper beds, let alone clothes, toys and space to call their own. They desperately need help to create a home for the children, so that they can start a new chapter in life - and give them each space to grieve and also to live long-term.

Sandra struggles with her grief and the challenges of being a surrogate mother to her grandchildren. She has needed to work longer hours to keep the family afloat, so retirement is no longer an option. Ziggy is also grieving and is now a surrogate father to his niece and nephews.

This may be one of the smallest houses DIY SOS has taken on, but this small house offers up big challenges to the team. With a family stuck in a tiny home, unable to deal with their grief, the team and generous West Bromwich volunteers step in to drastically improve this family's home and guarantee that Sandra can keep the family together.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 19 Dec 2018 20:00
大象传媒 One except Scotland & Scotland HD

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Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:03

    Gabrielle Aplin

    Salvation

  • 00:09

    Florence + The Machine

    Shake It Out

  • 00:10

    Little Mix

    Competition

  • 00:15

    Eliza Doolittle

    Moneybox

  • 00:16

    Years & Years

    Eyes Shut

  • 00:19

    Mumford & Sons

    Holland Road

  • 00:20

    Eliza Doolittle

    Back Packing

  • 00:21

    George Ezra

    Cassy O'

  • 00:28

    Kaiser Chiefs

    Always Happens Like That

  • 00:34

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Ode To Joy (from Symphony No 9)

  • 00:39

    Take That

    Shine

  • 00:44

    Olly Murs

    Dear Darlin'

  • 00:50

    The Shires

    Other People's Things

  • 00:52

    Hurts

    Wish

  • 00:52

    Ed Sheeran

    Drunk

  • 00:54

    The Pigeon Detectives

    Caught In Your Trap

Credits

Presenter Nick Knowles
Executive Producer Robi Dutta
Series Producer Hamish Summers
Production Manager Lauren Hurrell
Director Matthew Skilton

Broadcasts