Ep 5. Kerrylea / Lauren

Kerrylea is known to be a hoarder who loves collecting different things. Her house is filled with all sorts of items, from toys and clothes to boxes and bags of different shapes and sizes. Kerrylea's hoarding has reached a point where her husband and son can no longer stand living with the clutter, and they have decided to seek help.

In this episode, viewers start by getting a glimpse into Kerrylea's home, and the severity of her hoarding. Items are stacked high and squeezed into different corners, leaving little room for movement. It's clear that Kerrylea is overwhelmed with the thought of letting go of anything in her collection, as it has become a source of comfort and control.

Viewers get to see Kerrylea's husband and son articulate their struggles, and we learn about how it's affecting their lives. The husband has to sleep on a couch, as there is no room in the bedroom, and the son is forced to leave his belongings in his car because there's no space in his room. It's a sad moment, but necessary to understand the impact of hoarding on loved ones.

We then witness the arrival of the cleanup crew who are tasked with cleaning the property and decluttering Kerrylea's home. The crew visibly struggles to navigate through the piles of items, but they power through the challenge.

One of the most striking moments comes when the cleanup crew come across a doll that Kerrylea had been searching for years. The doll had fallen on the floor and it was broken into pieces. Kerrylea breaks down in tears and starts to rationalize finding a way to fix it. It's a reminder that there's an emotional attachment to every item in the house, making it challenging to let anything go.

The episode ends on a happy note as we get a glimpse of the newly transformed home. The place has been cleaned, organized, and it's a significant improvement compared to the initial state. Kerrylea's husband can now sleep in his bed, the son has additional space, and Kerrylea is delighted with the improvements.

In the latter part of the episode, we get introduced to Lauren, another hoarder who has a different kind of clutter. Lauren has a passion for collecting frogs, and her home is filled with various frog items, from frog dolls to frog figurines.

Despite being attached to her collection, Lauren is more aware of the effects of hoarding on her life. She's admitted to being embarrassed when visitors come to the house, and it's also affecting her social life. Lauren's desire for change motivates her to seek help.

The cleanup crew gets to work once again, and the focus is on getting rid of the things she doesn't need. It's challenging, but there's an acknowledgment that the frogs are the focal point, and it's easier to let go of other items.

A standout moment comes when Lauren is shown an area filled with items that the crew picked out for removal. Despite the challenge, Lauren volunteers to dispose of all the unwanted items herself, a sign that she's motivated to change.

The episode ends with a look at Lauren's transformed home, and it's another significant improvement. The frogs are the main focus, and everything else is put away neatly. Lauren can now entertain guests, and she's better positioned to lead a more fulfilling life.

Overall, the episode provides a realistic view of hoarding and its effects, both emotionally and physically. We get to see the challenges hoarders go through and the impact on loved ones. However, it's also an episode filled with hope, as both Kerrylea and Lauren take a positive step towards recovery.