Miss H: An Update

It has been a few weeks now, since Miss H returned home.  For those who are new to the blog, I will give you a quick(lol) overview before I go on. 

The Kitchen

Miss H has been living in the isolation of compulsive hoarding and shopping for decades.  Those who have the priveledge of knowing her would likely describe her as funny, outgoing, generous and kind.  Her appearance is very important to her.  She is always dressed to the nines with coordinating accessories, and never misses an appointment for her hair-do, mani or pedi.  What they didn’t know was that these great efforts were taken to hide what was going on inside both Miss H and consequently, her home.

A few months ago, Miss H had a bad fall and broke a few bones.  She was unable to get up.  She had the choice to lie there and die, or to reach in her pocket to call 911.  For most of us, there would be no hesitation.  For those who live in the paralyzing fear resulting from compulsive hoarding and acquiring disorders, the choice isn’t as easy.  Thankfully, she chose life.

When the EMT’s reached the home, they were unable to gain entry through the doors.  The fire department was called in; as were the police, building inspector, minimum housing officials, and half the rest of the town employees showed up just to catch a peek.  They could not get emergency equipment into the house, so the firefighters simply pulled her up and helped to an awaiting stretcher at the door.  When she stepped outside, she saw the faces of the neighbors all gawking with curiosity at the circus that was now her home.  Her secret was out.  Now what? 

With no family in the area, she contacted a couple of close friends who couldn’t have been more supportive.  One drove in from a few states away, and dealt with the immediate demands of the authorities.  She entered the house for the first time in three decades and was shocked.  For inside the house was unimaginable squalor.  Pathways were actually on top of over two feet of trash, so when you walked on them your head hit the ceiling.  There was no running water.  No heat.  No edible food.  Many of the rooms were packed so full, they were altoghether inaccessible.  The bathroom was full front to back, side to side as high as the toilet seat with a mix of belongings, used toilet paper and other “bathroom-like” things.   She was sent in to retreive minimal items like medication and shoes before the keys were confiscated and the signs were posted on the door.  “CONDEMNED- UNFIT FOR HUMAN OCCUPANCY OR USE.”  With the help of her friends and the social worker at the hospital, she called us.

It took my team nearly seven weeks working six or seven days per week.  We filled six 30 yard dumpsters with a four ton capacity, some charged for overage, with trash.  We donated thousands and thousands of clothing and household items, and filled a 12′ x 12′ room with new, valuable, collectible and antique items for an estate sale.  The water heater, toilet, vanity and all faucets were replaced.  We installed new window treatments, fire/ smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors, ceiling fans and lighting fixtures.  We had over 500 lbs. of laundry sent out, and the entire home and contents cleaned and sanitzed.  Before she came home, we organized all remaining items in a simple, easy to maintain system and provided her with rules for her new life.

Since the day she came home, she is doing well.  We have visited weekly, as promised, and she has continued to purge!  We collected more clothing and a couple of boxes of mugs and dishes.  She has hired painters who have begun updating her living spaces with new, bright colors.  She is doing her dishes after every meal.  She is sorting the mail daily and the trash goes to the curb each week. 

The end result.

She is unable to do laundry, located on another floor, due to her physical limitations.  We are “encouraging” her to send it out temporarily, until she feels better.  The greatest reward for us, is to hear about her friends visiting now, and her plans to have family visit from out of state- in her home- for the first time ever!  When people ask us why we do what we do, it seems almost comical to me.  I guess they only see what the media shows them.  Depressed, angry people fighting over stuff in a house overwhelmed by contents and emotions.  I forget that they don’t see what happens between the first and last shoot.  The tears.  The laughter.  The breakthroughs.  The victories.  Even more laughter.  The ever lasting friendships that are made.  The true love and compassion that I am so fortunate to witness every day of my life, within my employees, vendor partners, family, and within the friends and family members of my clients’.