Several local businesses have offered their help to transform a Monmouth family’s home; beginning last week, the BBC programme DIY SOS began their biggest build that the show has ever attempted for Charlotte and Rob Fairlie.

The couple live on Old Hereford Road with their twin one-year-old boys. When the boys were born, a time that should have been the happiest of their lives, tragedy struck the family. Charlotte who had suffered from Pre-eclampsia during the pregnancy, suffered a stroke minutes after giving birth, which sent her into a coma.

Miraculously, Charlotte pulled through, despite having been given a 1% chance of survival. However, the stroke left her with brain damage, a loss of speech and partial paralysis.

Perhaps worst of all Charlotte, who had dedicated her career to nursery childcare and had longed to have children of her own, has lost all memory of ever being pregnant and giving birth to her sons.

Charlotte was moved to a specialist hospital, where Rob stayed by her side for nine months, whilst the babies were cared for by the nursing staff and family. Against all odds Charlotte has now returned home, where Rob cares for her full time after giving up his job. She has made incredible progress, slowly teaching herself to walk again, say a few basic words, and to be a mother to the twins, Teddy and Fox.

But her progress is limited by the house. She lacks the space and facilities to be able to care for herself, and she is completely dependent on Rob.

It is hoped that the family’s house, after it has been renovated by the DIY SOS builders will ensure that the home will suit Charlotte and her new requirements, and make life a little easier for her.

Several Ross-on-Wye businesses, after finding out about the project, leapt at the chance to offer their help.

Bekki Steele, of Ross-based graphic design duo Steele and Stovell, told the Ross Gazette that she and she and her partner, Ewan Stovell helped out with decorating the interior of the family home. Bekki said: “We just wanted to help, and some of our clients wanted to help, so we connected them with the DIY SOS team.”

Another business based in Ross-on-Wye, Saymor Furnishers have donated household items to go in to the newly renovated family home. Sally Say told the Ross Gazette that when she heard the family’s story, they desperately wanted to be involved. “It’s a great thing to be able to help,” Sally said. “We hope it helps the family and we were very happy to be involved.”

Oldfield Forge, based in Garway were also eager to offer their services to support the family in any way they could. Nicky Heath told the Ross Gazette that they have donated interior furniture to go in the family home.

She said that although their family did not personally know the Fairlie family, she could relate to them, as her family had also had hard times. She said: “As a family run company we always look to support causes and local businesses. A mum to twins myself, I experienced a tough labour, I can only appreciate a tiny bit to what the family has been through. If my company can assist in anyway in making a family home then we are only too willing to help.”

Another business, Hale & Co, based in Drybrook in the Forest of Dean, was another business in the area who jumped at the chance to get involved with the programme. Jake Hale, the Company Director, told the Gazette that wanted to help a very deserving local family.

He added that working as a team with other local businesses on the project was an added bonus. He said that in the building trade particularly, there is a closely-knit community. “It gave us the opportunity to form a team with some of our customers,” he said, “And it was something different, unique and a way to help others within our local community.”

A spokesperson from DIY SOS: The Big Build said: “We completely rely on the support and generosity of the local community of tradespeople and suppliers, to help truly deserving families transform their homes.”