DIY SOS family whose son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy is abused because of delayed episode

Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team went to Corby to help inspire teen Jordan Hutchison, who was forced by his family to turn off social media and change his phone number when their episode went out of the air for two years.

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DIY SOS: The Corby community helps build a home for a family with a son with a disability

Finding themselves in a desperate situation, the Hutchison family was extremely grateful when they were saved by DIY SOS.

However, they received vile abuse from trolls because it took two and a half years for their episode to air on TV.

Despite being one of the most deserving families the program has ever helped, this family was forced to turn off social media and change phone numbers due to abuse.

The team and hundreds of volunteers visited their home in Corby, Northamptonshire in 2019, but post-production for their program has stalled due to the Covid pandemic.

Acknowledging that she is feeling “anxious” ahead of tonight’s episode on BBC One, mother Jackie told BBC Radio Northampton: “There are rumors that we’ve sold our house and moved to Dubai.

“I’m so grateful that it’s on air and people can see that we still love every second of our lives in our house and we’ll never sell our home.”

The main reason DIY SOS got involved was to support the inspirational teenager Jordan, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but this didn’t let him defy expectations.

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When Jordan, now 19, was born, his parents were told he would never walk or talk.

But the teenager is determined to do more and has raised thousands of pounds to help fund equipment and facilities for other young people in need.

The Hutchisons had to live in rental housing for 12 years because the house they owned was not large enough to accommodate Jordan’s specialized equipment.

They started a project to modify their home to fit Jordan’s needs with a £60,000 loan, but ran into problems and were unable to complete the construction.

“We had no bedroom, no downstairs amenities for Jordan,” explains Jackie. “It’s been hard, life is really hard and we really can’t see the end of it.”

Colin’s father is Jordan’s primary caregiver and has saved his life many times when his son had a seizure in his sleep.

Jackie’s mother was not physically fit to help Jordan, so she had to work in the children’s home, saving every penny to perfect their home.

Jordan is a growing guy with a very strong mind and he just wants his independence like any other young man his age, but he doesn’t have the space or facilities to grow.

Their living situation and financial pressure of unfinished construction caused the whole family to suffer heavy consequences, Jackie even broke down.

With no water or electricity in their home, the couple and their three children were forced to move in with the children’s grandmother until DIY SOS was contacted.

On the fourth attempt, their prayers were answered when the BBC’s producers contacted them to say they had been accepted.

The house needed a lot of work before the family could move in, so many traders and volunteers from Corby and across the UK came to help.

Plumbers, electricians, plasterers, decorators and gardeners worked on the home renovation in October 2019 along with the DIY SOS team and designer Gabrielle Omar.

Presenter Nick said more than 100 local vendors and volunteers were “really attached to the family”.

“It’s an extraordinary thing, it’s the best of our society, and it’s hugely emotional,” he explained. “I’m really attached to my family. It’s life-changing.”

Thanking the volunteers outside their home, Jackie’s mother admits their lives have completely changed and the construction has kept them together as a family.

“Before you guys came, our lives were a mess,” she admitted tearfully. “And the past 12 months have been horrible.

“Looking at the house now and seeing how generous and kind you all have been is amazing.”

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