Grand Designs viewers ‘sobbing’ seeing home built for young mum who was paralysed

Grand Designs viewers have declared this week’s episode ‘the best ever’ after a home was built for young mum and her family following a devastating health diagnosis.

On the latest episode of the long-running Channel 4 series, Yorkshire couple Jonny and Kara shared their plans to build their dream home for their young family.

Not only facing the challenge of leading the project themselves and managing a tight budget, they also wanted to create an accessible home after Kara was confined to a wheelchair five years ago.

During a holiday to Spain in 2019, Kara suffered a seizure and lost feeling in her legs.

She was soon diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disease which can flare up and cause irreparable damage to the central nervous system. She hasn’t walked since.

Just a few weeks later the couple, who were already parents to son Isaac, discovered she was pregnant.

Three years after welcoming daughter Winnie, the couple decided it was time to sell their home and build a new accessible one that would serve their needs.

After living in a converted garage next door to her parents’ home, Kara needed a space that was also well suited to a wheelchair user.

As she explained: ‘You don’t think you will be facing never walking again…I want a beautiful home that works for me and our family, and it will give us the joy in life I don’t necessarily have now.’

After she suffered several falls in their current home, the couple designed plans for a single-storey four-bedroom home that would allow her to regain her independence.

Despite facing building delays and a back injury that required surgery after Kara had a serious fall, the couple eventually unveiled their stunning home.

When visiting the completed project, host Kevin McCloud labelled it ‘magnificent’.

‘We’ve created something beautiful in the eye of the storm,’ Kara declared.

The accessible home ‘full of life changing and subtle accessible solutions’ featured details like brass bars used as both handrails and bumpers for Kara, as well as an automated bell system installed in each room around the house that would allow her to call for assistance when needed.

For the first time in years, Kara said she was thrilled that she’d also now be able to hang her own washing.

‘It took a lot of work but worth it,’ the couple shared.

Many viewers watching the show shared their thoughts, with many saying it was the most emotional episode they’d ever seen since the show began.

‘Grand Designs! Tonight’s episode was off the scale Yorkshire determination and grit. An emotional watch. Good luck Kara & Jonny for all your future endeavours. You are truly amazing,’ Sally posted on X.

‘What an incredible episode this one was. So glad that it was a successful build. Kara & Jonny deserve all the happiness in the world. Lovely home, lovely people,’ Gregg shared.

‘Don’t think I’ve ever shed a tear watching the reveal at the end (though perhaps for a sad event) – but there were definitely happy tears for this family. A beautiful home for beautiful people,’ Stephanie added.

Reflecting on the significance of this project, Kevin said while it was a ‘big ask’, they managed to ‘crack it’.

‘Johnny and Kara never wanted to build this house. It’s only here because Kara became paralysed,’ he said.

What is Neuromyelitis optica?

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune condition that affects the nerves in people’s eyes and spinal cords.

There’s no cure, but treatments can help manage the symptoms.

Symptoms can include eye pain and problems with eyesight or colour vision, in one or both eyes, sharp, burning or shooting pain (nerve pain) in the back, neck, arms or legs, weakness, numbness or paralysis in arms or legs, and muscle spasms.

Some people only have symptoms affecting their eyes (called optic neuritis), or only affecting their spinal cord (called transverse myelitis).

Symptoms may last a few days or weeks. Some people then recover fully, while others have longer lasting problems.

The main treatments for NMO are high dose steroid injections and plasma exchange.

‘Filled with light, joy and their bravery, it breaks the mould of what accessible design means.

‘Right at the start of this project I admit I didn’t think Jonny and Kara could really achieve everything they wanted, because they wanted so much. To build a house that was functional and ergonomic and delivered all the accessibility they needed which was also properly constructed and beautiful at the same time was a big ask but they cracked it.’

He put the achievement down to Kara having ‘the amazing ability to stand back and see the bigger picture and say what she needs’, as did her husband.

‘Going forward I hope it lifts their spirits and makes them a little happier and fills them with joy…that’s surely got to have positive impact on their lives.’

Grand Designs airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Channel 4.

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