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.
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Trail of new episode: 14th March, 8pm
Duration: 01:58
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:03
Gabrielle Aplin
Salvation
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00:09
Florence + The Machine
Shake It Out
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00:10
Little Mix
Competition
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00:15
Eliza Doolittle
Moneybox
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00:16
Years & Years
Eyes Shut
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00:19
Mumford & Sons
Holland Road
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00:20
Eliza Doolittle
Back Packing
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00:21
George Ezra
Cassy O'
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00:28
Kaiser Chiefs
Always Happens Like That
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00:34
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ode To Joy (from Symphony No 9)
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00:39
Take That
Shine
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00:44
Olly Murs
Dear Darlin'
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00:50
The Shires
Other People's Things
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00:52
Hurts
Wish
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00:52
Ed Sheeran
Drunk
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00:54
The Pigeon Detectives
Caught In Your Trap
Credits
Role | Contributor |
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Presenter | Nick Knowles |
Executive Producer | Robi Dutta |
Series Producer | Hamish Summers |
Production Manager | Lauren Hurrell |
Director | Matthew Skilton |
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