"We're doing our own DIY SOS" - family build a house for their stroke survivor brother
By Emma Dunn, SWNS
A family is doing their own DIY SOS and building a house for their brother, who was left homeless after suffering a stroke.
Gary Crutchley, 46, had a sudden stroke four years ago and had to have part of skull removed and rebuilt.
The dad-of-one had recently sold his house and was left with nowhere to go.
He has been waiting for the past four years on the social housing list but his family have now decided to club together to build him an accessible home.
His sister, Serene Crutchley, 52, is turning their parents' garage into his new living area with the help of volunteers in the local community.
The family have raised £10,000 so far for the project and have just put the roof on the property.
Serene, an NHS project manager, from near Carmarthen, West Wales, said: "Family and friends with hard work, fundraising and the help of volunteers are doing our very own DIY SOS. It's been a very emotional time.
"He's choosing all his own colour schemes and says what he likes. It's going to be really nice. It's getting quite exciting. He's touching heart strings."
Gary, from Stockport, had a sudden stroke while working out at home in October 2020.
He then ended up with a brain bleed and haemorrhage after an allergic reaction to a clot cutting drug.
He had part of his skull removed and rebuilt and has been left with disabilities.
Serene said: "He's lost numbers.
"His speech is affected.
"He's lost the use of his right arm.
"He can walk short distances.
"He'll probably need carers for the rest of his life but the rest of it he can be completely independent."
But Gary is currently still living in his brain rehab centre due to the social housing crisis.
Gary's parents, Chris, 77, and Susan, 71 - who he had been living with before the stroke - would not be able to look after him and Serene does not want to move him away from his social network.
Serene offered to build her brother a house about a year ago - by renovating her parents' garage.
She said: "It's mum and dad's garage but we wanted it to be separate. It's entirely his home.
"We started building it six months ago."
The home will be two storeys so if Gary needs a live in carer in the future there is space.
The family has lots of help from the community - after putting out a request on Facebook.
Chris, a retired builder, is also helping out to put a "roof over his son's head".
Serene said: "People have given up days of work and we've never met them in our lives before.
"The kindness we've been given has been amazing."
The family hope to have the project finished in late spring and estimate it will cost £100,000 in total.
Serene and her partner will pay the mortgage on the property for Gary to rent off them.
She said: "I know it will make a huge difference to him. In medical accommodation he is limited to socialising - He's got to be back at 9pm for lock up.
"The government are really failing the disabled. It shouldn't have to be like this."
You can donate to the families fundraiser here.
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