Parents to a two-year-old who has a rare genetic disorder broke down in tears on last night's DIY SOS after volunteers transformed their building site-like Welsh cottage into a safe haven.
Helen and Llyr's home renovation came to an abrupt halt when they found out they were pregnant with their first child, Macsen.
They were left living in a building site, surrounded by half-finished rooms and brick walls, as they navigated their eldest son's diagnosis. Worse, Helen believed the house was 'harming' her little boy, due to the amount of dust he would've been breathing in.
Helen was rushed into surgery five weeks before her due date for an emergency C-section before giving birth to Macsen, who was diagnosed with Kabuki syndrome, a condition which causes problems with fine motor skills, mobility and hearing.
'10 days after he was born, he had open heart surgery, and I just remember asking if he's going to live or die, and [the doctors] were like, "We can't make any promises"', recalled a tearful Helen.
'Once we got home with Max, then that first year was just survival,' explained Llyr, who works at a local outdoor activity centre. 'We just didn't make any progress to the house.'
The family's funds dried up, and they were left juggling Macsen's 'regimented' feeding schedule, one of them having to always sleep next to him due to his condition and also the birth of their second son, Ffredi.
But living on a building site impacted Macsen's health. 'His lungs were really delicate from being intubated, so all of the dust and things like that is really not good... It was a bit upsetting knowing that your house could potentially be harming them,' Helen admitted.
Thankfully, the DIY SOS team and a group of volunteers were on hand in the BBC episode to help the parents transform their home to make it more accessible.
Before the successful renovation, Helen and Llyr were living in a home not fit for their family, with dangerous stairs, unfinished rooms, no bath for Macsen and used their dining room table 'for everything'.
Helen and Llyr's home renovation came to an abrupt halt when they found out they were pregnant with their first child, Macsen
They were left living in a building site, surrounded by half-finished rooms and brick walls, as they navigated their eldest son's diagnosis. Worse, Helen believed the house was 'harming' her little boy, due to the amount of dust he would've been breathing in (pictured then)
Thankfully, the DIY SOS team and a group of volunteers were on hand in the BBC episode to help the parents transform their home to make it more accessible (pictured now)
'This is where everything happens,' Llyr said of the space in the uncompleted kitchen. 'It's feeding station. It's physio. It's changing station. It's where we have our dinner. This is where he plays. This room has been where we do everything, basically.'
Their bedrooms also needed improving, considering someone must always be on hand to help Macsen in case he's unwell in the night and starts to choke.
Pointing to the tiny single bed next to her son's cot, Helen explained: 'So, this is where Llyr sleeps.'
She said she wished for a more accessible home before becoming emotional as she admitted: 'It's been quite difficult for us to think that far ahead.'
The father-of-two then showed presenter Nick Knowles the garden, which was across two levels and featured an impractical shed, rather than the gym and physio space the parents dreamed of.
Reduced to tears, Llyr said: 'We can't relax ever at the minute. It's just always so much to do. All this work now I'm doing myself.'
Speaking to cameras, host Nick confessed: 'Logistically I should walk away from this one, doing this in a house with no access...' But added: 'There's no choice we can't say no...
'It's a challenge in December in North Wales... it's got to be done though hasn't it,' he insisted before confirming to an emotional Llyr and Helen that the DIY SOS team would take on the build.
Upon seeing the completed transformation, Helen (pictured with her family) broke down in tears before praising how 'beautiful' the space looked
Before the successful renovation, Helen and Llyr were living in a home not fit for their family, with dangerous stairs, unfinished rooms (pictured), no bath for Macsen and used their dining room table 'for everything'
In eight days, the crew completely transformed the Welsh cottage, finishing all the rooms, adding in a bath, a stair lift and a hospital grade bed for Macsen, as well as creating an outdoor space complete with a sauna for the toddler's physio and the parents' wellbeing
'This is where everything happens,' Llyr said of the uncompleted kitchen (pictured). 'It's feeding station. It's physio. It's changing station. It's where we have our dinner. This is where he plays. This room has been where we do everything, basically.'
The family's kitchen pictured after the renovation
Then a huge team of workers arrived at the home ready to help with the renovation - and they were met with a tear-jerking message from the parents.
Helen said: 'Llyr and I realised we're incredibly lucky to be part of a very special community in North Wales.
'When we had Macsen that same community instantly scrambled and drove four hours down the motorway every week to deliver us food parcels while we were living in hospital with him.'
She continued: 'Most of you don't even know us and you've turned up for the week to graft out of the kindness of your heart.
'That graft is going to change ours and the boys' lives forever. This house will finally provide a place of solace, relaxation and joy during the challenges that lie ahead.'
Fighting back tears, Llyr told the team: 'Macsen's been through so much in this short little life, but he's such a tough boy, and a huge part of that spirit inside of him comes from the amazing people around us. And today, that's you guys.'
In eight days, the crew completely transformed the Welsh cottage, finishing all the rooms, adding in a bath, a stair lift and a hospital grade bed for Macsen, as well as creating an outdoor space complete with a sauna for the toddler's physio and the parents' wellbeing.
They also made sure Macsen's and his parents' bedrooms were connected via sliding doors, so that Helen and Llyr could be close by but could also have their own privacy when they needed it.
'Are you sure this is our house?' Helen joked. 'It's really beautiful. I can't believe it... it's a home to be proud of, that's for sure. Thank you so much.'
Their bedrooms (pictured) also needed improving, considering someone must always be on hand to help Macsen in case he's unwell in the night
Macsen's room pictured after the transformation, complete with a hospital grade bed
The crew also made sure Macsen's and his parents' bedrooms were connected via sliding doors, so that Helen and Llyr could be close by but could also have their own privacy when they needed it
Upon seeing the completed transformation, Helen broke down in tears before praising how 'beautiful' the space looked.
'Are you sure this is our house?' she joked. 'It's really beautiful. I can't believe it... it's a home to be proud of, that's for sure. Thank you so much.'
She told the volunteers: 'Seriously, what you've done in there is absolutely astonishing and beyond our wildest dreams. Really, thank you so so much. Really, from the bottom of our hearts, you've really, you've really, really changed our lives.'
An emotional Llyr added: 'It's incredible the kindness and the lengths that you've all gone to. I just can't get my head around it.
'We've got a base now to raise these two beautiful boys. We've got somewhere, somewhere to come home to at the end of the day. Whatever happens. Thank you so much.'
The episode comes after it was announced that DIY SOS has been axed after 27 years on air as part of the BBC's widely publicised £500million savings plan.
A BBC Spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'In light of the BBC’s savings challenges we have taken the decision to rest DIY SOS in 2027 and commission a new spin off show instead from producers South Shore.
'DIY SOS Rebuilt My Life will revisit successes from the show’s past and expand the brand on the BBC in a more cost-effective way next year.'
The show began all the way back in 1999 as a low-budget format fixing botched renovations.
In 2010, it evolved into DIY SOS: The Big Build, rallying local tradespeople and volunteers to completely transform homes for families dealing with severe illness or disability. Series 35 is currently airing on TV.