A paralysed man from Surrey who spent three years sleeping in his eating room has described how a crew of volunteer builders gave him his greatest night time’s sleep in years – by constructing a house extension totally free.
Paul Kitterman, from Addlestone, was left paralysed from the waist down in 2021 following a sudden spinal abscess. With no accessible services in his house, Paul had been sleeping within the eating room behind a curtain, with out entry to a rest room or bathe.
Now, because of greater than 25 volunteer tradespeople from the charity Band of Builders, Paul has a custom-built ground-floor bed room and loo – and says he lastly appears like himself once more.
Paul’s story
Paul’s ordeal started all of a sudden in October 2021, when what felt like a foul again changed into a medical emergency.
He collapsed in A&E and was later recognized with a spinal abscess, pneumonia, and sepsis. Medical doctors positioned him in a coma, and though his life was saved, the harm left him paralysed from the waist down.
He spent six months in hospital and rehabilitation, and returned house to a home that wasn’t outfitted for his new wants and he and his spouse couldn’t afford the price of a brand new extension.
Whereas Paul confirmed exceptional dedication, even returning to work, he had no non-public area or accessible lavatory at house.
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Paul and his spouse Sasha reached out to Band of Builders (BoB), a nationwide building charity that helps tradespeople and their households by sensible initiatives when sickness or damage strikes.
The builders and companies who stepped up
Supplies have been supplied by corporations throughout the UK(Picture credit score: Band of Builders)
As soon as planning permission for the extension was authorized, greater than two dozen tradespeople from throughout the UK travelled to Surrey to finish the challenge in simply three weeks.
Supplies have been donated by corporations together with Jewson, Ibstock, Forterra, Supreme Bogs and SIG Roofing, with DEWALT approaching board because the headline sponsor.
Tim Winstanley, Senior Model Supervisor at DEWALT UK, stated: “After we heard about Paul’s story, we knew we needed to get entangled. Tasks like this present how highly effective the commerce group might be when it pulls collectively.”
One of many challenge leads, Andrew Pell, added: “This wasn’t nearly bricks and mortar – it was about giving Paul the consolation, dignity, and independence he hadn’t had since 2021.”
The brand new extension features a wheelchair-accessible moist room and a spacious bed room, giving Paul a degree of consolation and normality he’d been lacking for years.
Paul says he is been ‘given an opportunity to reside with dignity once more’
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Paul stated he has had a “nice night time’s sleep each night time” because the extension was full(Picture credit score: Band of Builders)
A bed room and moist room was constructed within the extension(Picture credit score: Band of Builders)
Paul and his spouse Sasha expressed deep gratitude to the Band of Builders volunteers and the numerous corporations that donated supplies to make the challenge attainable.
For Paul, the affect has been instant as he acknowledged: “I’ve had an excellent night time’s sleep each night time because the construct.
“This challenge has modified our lives. This extension provides me my dignity and privateness again, as I now have bathe and bathroom services, in addition to my very own mattress.”
