Stacey Solomon comforted a mum who broke down in tears on camera as she spoke about caring for her desperately sick daughter while preparing to give birth during the latest episode of BBC's Sort Your Life Out.
The TV host was visiting the Bowen family in Welshpool after they called upon her and the rest of the team to transform their home.
A Fresh Start in Wales
Mum-of-four Katrina had moved her family, aged five to 18, from the West Midlands to start a new chapter in the countryside as a single parent. But for a truly fresh start, they needed to do some serious decluttering first.
Heading to the family's home, Stacey told co-star Dilly Carter: "I'm actually so excited to go to Wales!" She explained that the family had moved to Wales five years ago but the house had "got on top of them", leaving them feeling "overwhelmed".
The five-bedroom house was full of clutter when the team arrived, over-run with soft toys and clothes hanging in doorways among other things.
Facing Tough Times
Viewers watching the episode on BBC One on Thursday, November 5 learned how the family had faced tough times, including eldest daughter Tayla being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when she was 12.
In the warehouse where all of their goods were taken to be laid out, they came across Tayla's hospital bracelets next to one for her sister Olivia when she was born. Katrina went on to explain that Tayla was seriously sick while she herself was preparing to give birth to her new baby daughter.
"That must have been so difficult for you," said mum-of-five Stacey. Katrina admitted: "It was when Tayla was at her most poorliest. She had a bad reaction to her chemo. She was really ill, she was probably about six stone, six-and-a-half stone, and it was a time when I wasn't sure if she'd make it."
A Difficult Time
As Katrina choked back tears, she added: "And then I had to try and have a baby at the same time so it was a lot." Stacey replied: "That is a lot."
The mum went on to describe how she was in the same hospital as Tayla while she was in labour and would spend time visiting her sick daughter.
Speaking to the camera she said: "I did think we were going to lose her. I remember saying to her it's ok if she needs to go and she just lay there as if she had no fight left in her.
"And I felt guilty at the time because I was bringing new life into the world and she's fighting for hers."
Recovery and New Beginnings
Thankfully, Tayla took a turn for the better. "Olivia was born on the Saturday morning and Tayla was released from hospital at 10 past 12 on the Saturday afternoon. So we all went home together and it was honestly one of the best weekends I can remember."
Stacey asked how she dealt with it. "I was juggling the two, trying to carry on for both of them." The TV presenter told her: "It's so hard," as Katrina admitted: "It was and it still is but I did do it and we got through."
Putting the bad times behind them, the team helped them declutter their new home and redecorated it, and Katrina and the children were clearly overwhelmed with their new home. "Doesn't it look amazing," said the mum as she saw her new living room.
Sort Your Life Out is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
