First for DIY SOS as team helps family from Co Down

On a first ever visit to Northern Ireland, Nick Knowles and his DIY SOS team have vastly improved the lives of a Co Down family with complex health conditions.
The DIY SOS team and volunteers with the McCreight family in BangorThe DIY SOS team and volunteers with the McCreight family in Bangor
The DIY SOS team and volunteers with the McCreight family in Bangor

The award-winning BBC One home renovation series team was in Bangor help make life a lot easier for the McCreight family.

Living in a house that does not meet their needs has posed many challenges for the McCreights and resulted in them having to spend much of their time apart.

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Mum Mandy has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, postural orthostic tachycardia syndrome, fibromyalgia and gastroparesis.

Having those complex conditions means Mandy is confined to the bedroom most of time as she finds the stairs difficult to negotiate and cannot use her power chair within the family home.

“I am completely isolated in my bedroom from the rest of my family whilst dealing with my conditions,” she said.

Husband Davy is his wife’s registered carer but has also struggled with his own chronic conditions.

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As well as being a carer for Mandy he is a full-time father to their children Ben and Kara who also have health needs.

Davy finds the stairs hard to manage due to a back injury, burning feet syndrome and problems with his knees.

The layout of the house required a total redesign to suit the family’s needs, with appropriate bedrooms and a wet-room that has direct access for carers.

The reconfiguring and future proofing of the entire house was a mammoth task that provided access to the garden, bringing independence and many health benefits to the McCreight family.

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Doors needed to be widened throughout, with a new lift installed for accessing the first floor – allowing the family’s wheelchairs to move freely throughout the home.

A redesigned kitchen project was also needed to create a space for the family to come together and for Ben, who is keen to learn catering, to work under one-to-one supervision.

As always, the DIY SOS team called on the support and generosity of volunteers from the local community in Bangor.

DIY SOS recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary and in this episode, build manager Mark Millar makes a welcome return to his home town.

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Mark said: “It was my proudest moment in 34 years to walk back in to my hometown and be surrounded by trades people from all across the province, working, laughing and sharing so much love together all for a family that none of us knew”.

Filming for this episode took place during summer 2019 – before the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will be shown on BBC One at 9pm on Monday, February 22.

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