ick Knowles and the DIY SOS team returned last night (October 3), ready to transform the lives of school girl Isla Screaton Kilpatrick and her family.
Isla, who turned eight while DIY SOS was filming, suffers from the rare genetic condition, Mandibuloacral Dysplasia.
The condition affects bone growth and causes premature ageing of all the body’s major organs. Isla is the only person living in the UK with unique gene mutation.
DIY SOS’s Ashley Edwards with little Isla Screaton Kilpatrick (Credit: BBC)
Isla’s single mum Stacey has even been warned by a doctor her daughter could start suffering from strokes and heart attacks now she is past seven years old.
Stacey was in desperate need of help to make her three-bedroom semi in Aylestone, Leicester, accessible for the youngster. Isla’s room was too small, there was no storage for medication and equipment and, concerningly, the render was flaking off the outside wall and the downpipes were at risk of causing damp.
Cue Nick and his DIY SOS team, who are back on BBC One for the first time in three years.
DIY SOS: Independence For Isla
Nick Knowles and his team of DIY SOS experts – including designer Gaby Blackman, electrician Billy Byrne, gardener Ashley Edwards and plasterer Chris Frediani – visited Isla’s home for the first episode in the new series of the show. And, boy, what an emotional rollercoaster it was.
Isla lives with mum Stacey and her older sister Paige. The family’s home was completely unsuitable for Isla, who weighed just 15lbs (7kg) when she was two years old. She was unable to reach any light switches, door knobs and had to stand on a cardboard box to brush her teeth.
Most importantly, Isla has a tracheotomy in her throat to help her breathe. This means she speaks quietly and cannot shout. As a result, Isla was forced to sleep in Stacey’s bedroom over fears she wouldn’t be heard in an emergency.
Stacey says: “The tracheotomy means I can’t hear her. She’s very quiet. If there is an issue, she can’t shout for me.” She added: “I just want my kids to feel like kids.”
When Nick visited the Screaton Kilpatrick family and told them the DIY SOS team would help, Isla burst into tears. Even Nick looked choked up as he checked: “These are happy tears, aren’t they?!”
Nick is back with all the team, including electrician Billy Byrne (Credit: BBC)
Isla’s big DIY SOS build
Nick and the DIY SOS team quickly realised there was not enough space in Stacey’s home to ensure Isla’s needs are met. They drew up new plans and added a timber rear extension to the property. It was to become a swish new lounge.
This meant they could move older sister Paige downstairs into the old lounge and turn upstairs into two big bedrooms. All the rooms were given an extremely stylish makeover, thanks to Gabby, but the adjustments made went beyond Stacey’s expectations.
The family’s made-over house featured plenty of new storage cupboards to house medication and equipment for Isla. The youngster was given an electric, low level bed, a low level ‘grown up’ dining chair – so she didn’t need a baby seat anymore – and even her own low down, retractable kitchen worktop.
An electric sink was fitted in the bathroom, so the height can be adjusted, and a double handrail was added to the stairs.
Most impressively, the DIY SOS team added a secret door between Isla’s new bedroom and Stacey’s new room. Disguised as a children’s bookcase, it means the mother and daughter can have privacy but Stacey is close in the event of an emergency.
DIY SOS: Tears for Isla
We warned it would be an emotional one – and there were plenty of moments for viewers to cry. During the build, plane enthusiast Isla celebrated her eighth birthday. Together with Stacey, Gabby and Billy, Nick took her to a local airfield. Nick then surprise Isla with a flight in a small aircraft.
If you weren’t crying yet, you will have been when the plane flew over the house and the 160 tradesmen and women working on it stood waving in the garden, shouting: “Happy Birthday, Isla!”
Stacey opened up on her struggles as Isla looked at the planes in the hanger with Billy and Gabby. She cried: “The last year was the hardest, as that’s when we found out things were changing. It is something that always runs in the back of your mind. It terrifies me.”
The brave mum added: “My biggest fear is seeing her deteriorating. She’s such a big happy character and that’s what I want her to be always.”
Nick told Stacey she is “doing an extraordinary job”, adding: “Isla is full of joy.”
A total of 160 local tradesmen and women turned up to help Isla and her family (Credit: BBC)
Isla’s reaction
It’s fair to say Isla, Stacey and big sister Paige couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw their new house for the first time. All three were left sobbing as they walked through the door and into their new lounge.
Addressing the army of local tradesmen and women outside, Stacey told them: “That in there, is stunning. Watching Isla being able to walk around the house…she looked like a completely different person. She was so independent.”
Stacey added: “You have just achieved everything I wanted to do. Our future now is going to be so much more comfortable.”
DIY SOS viewers react
Viewers watching at home admitted they were reached for the Kleenex minutes into the opening show of the new series.
“With all the hate in the world at the moment, you and your crew remind me that there is good in humanity. I watched it with my two little girls, it’s good to have you all back,” said one. “Absolutely in pieces again – thanks #diysos and @mrnickKnowles for reminding us what happens when communities come together for a common cause – Isla and her family are so deserving!” said a second.
A third added: “So refreshing to see a crowd of people marching down a street filled with love instead of hate. Imagine what this world would be like if we did more of this.”
“Watching #DIYSOS makes me proud to British. We have more in common that unites than divides us,” another posted. “Tonight’s episode had us in bits from 5 minutes in…that amazing little girl, her spirit, her smile, her love for life. Your heart goes out to that family – so much love.”
“Restores your faith in humanity when there’s so much hate in the world,” another concluded
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