DIY SOS viewers are left in tears as the show revisits a boy, 6, with spina bifida who was given a life-changing sensory room as part of the home makeover – saying ‘his smile melts our hearts’
- To mark the 20th anniversary of DIY SOS, Nick Knowles revisited six projects
- Noah, six, with spina bifida, was 15 months old when the show first visited home
- Last night, his family credited BBC show for their son’s dramatic improvement
DIY SOS viewers were left in tears after the show revisited a little boy with spina bifida for its 20th anniversary special.
Last night’s episode focused on Noah Wall, from Cumbria, who was just 15-months- old when presenter Nick Knowles and his team first visited his home in August 2014.
Now six, his parents Rob and Michelle Wall, credited their house improvements, which included a sensory play room, for Noah’s ‘incredible’ progress – before revealing his brain development has advanced by 78 per cent since the build.
The family’s heartwarming story, which was one of six revisited in the episode to celebrate two decades of the BBC series, left the audience at home ‘sobbing’.
Noah Wall, from Cumbria, was just 15 months old (pictured) when Nick Knowles and his team first visited his home in August 2014 (pictured then)
![Now 6 (pictured), his parents Rob and Michelle Wall, credited their house improvements, which included a sensory play room, for Noah's 'incredible' progress - as his brain development has advanced by an astonishing 78 per cent since the build](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/09/18143294-7434523-image-a-35_1567757890410.jpg)
Now 6 (pictured), his parents Rob and Michelle Wall, credited their house improvements, which included a sensory play room, for Noah’s ‘incredible’ progress – as his brain development has advanced by an astonishing 78 per cent since the build
![Rob and Michelle Wall (pictured with their son) revealed how their house makeover boosted the little boy's advances](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/04/17/18015884-7422883-Rob_and_Michelle_Wall_from_Cumbria_whose_son_Noah_has_spina_bifi-a-3_1567615093091.jpg)
Rob and Michelle Wall (pictured with their son) revealed how their house makeover boosted the little boy’s advances
‘Noah you had us all in tears. You’re such an inspiration. Your journey is incredible’, wrote one viewer, while another commented:
‘Thank you for showing Noah’s update. His was an unforgettable episode and his smile still melts your heart. What a difference you made to his life.’
A third enthused: ‘Watching it and can’t stop crying!!’
Rob and Michelle lived in a crumbling house before the renovation, as the couple had intended to redo their house before their son was born, but didn’t manage to get round to it.
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![The family's heartwarming story, which was one of six revisited by host Nick in a special episode to celebrate two decades of the BBC series, left the audience at home 'sobbing'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/10/18143228-7434523-The_family_s_heartwarming_story_which_was_one_of_six_revisited_b-a-1_1567761994224.jpg)
The family’s heartwarming story, which was one of six revisited by host Nick in a special episode to celebrate two decades of the BBC series, left the audience at home ‘sobbing’
The 2014 episode saw the DIY SOS team kit out the property with a new sensory playroom for Noah, and they regenerated its crumbling interior with colourful decor.
On revisiting the couple, Nick discovered that since the show, Noah’s brain has developed from two per cent to 80 per cent.
Rob insisted that it’s ‘incredible’ how much his son has come on in the last six years, while his wife Michelle credited some of his improvement to the show.
‘We placed him in the tiniest wheelchair that you’ve ever seen and I just couldn’t believe that Noah, with two per cent of his brain, was rotating himself backwards and forwards,’ she said.
![Rob and Michelle were planning to re-do their Cumbria home, but were unable to after their son was born (pictured before their time on the show)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/10/18015896-7434523-Rob_and_Michelle_were_planning_to_re_do_their_Cumbria_home_but_w-a-2_1567761994243.jpg)
Rob and Michelle were planning to re-do their Cumbria home, but were unable to after their son was born (pictured before their time on the show)
![The home was re-decorated (pictured) with chic decor, including multi-coloured chairs and stylish wooden counter tops](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/03/19/18015888-7422883-The_home_was_re_decorated_chic_decor_including_multi_colored_cha-a-18_1567535621962.jpg)
The home was re-decorated (pictured) with chic decor, including multi-coloured chairs and stylish wooden counter tops
![The family's new home was decorated in bright colours and given a modern makeover by the team (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/09/18143268-7434523-image-m-42_1567758252615.jpg)
The family’s new home was decorated in bright colours and given a modern makeover by the team (pictured)
![The house improvements included a sensory playroom to help with Noah's progress (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/09/18143292-7434523-image-a-43_1567758284583.jpg)
The house improvements included a sensory playroom to help with Noah’s progress (pictured)
‘I knew from that day he’d be completely independent and that was really special to me.’
Rob added: ‘Noah has come on so much in the past six years, it really is incredible. His brain has actually grown to 80 per cent which is incredible.’
Social media users were keen to shower the programme with praise for its two decades of hard work.
‘Congratulations and well done for making peoples’ lives better. And Billy’s lights are still working,’ penned one, while another commented:
‘I am a sobbing heap on the floor. So emotional! To see what people can achieve and the love out there is very beautiful. Thank you Nick Knowles and all the wonderful volunteers for all that you have done and do!’
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![Social media users were keen to shower the programme with praise for its two decades of hard work](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/09/06/09/18143250-7434523-image-a-8_1567757312470.jpg)
Social media users were keen to shower the programme with praise for its two decades of hard work