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Jimmy: AT NIGHT, YOU COULD HEAR
THE SCRATCHING, THE CLAWING, THE NIBBLING.
THE RATS WERE PRETTY MUCH DESTROYING THE HOUSE AROUND US.
Cheryl: THE RATS ATE THROUGH THE BED.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
OH...MY...
[ Voice breaking ] MY GOD.
Cheryl: AIMEE.
NO!
Shh.
THIS HOUSE [BLEEP] KILLED HER.
I KNOW.
OH, MY GOD. MOM, THANKS.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A WAY
THAT YOU CAN ALL COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MOM.
IS IT IN THIS ROOM ANYWHERE? OH, GOD.
IF YOU SEE A RAT, DON'T CORNER 'EM.
DON'T GET SCRATCHED BY 'EM. DON'T TRY TO CATCH 'EM.
Aimee: HOW DO YOU ABANDON YOUR KIDS FOR CRAP?!
SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW.
SHE WENT NUTS.
SHE DID THIS TO US! SHE DID IT!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Jimmy: AT NIGHT, YOU COULD HEAR
THE SCRATCHING, THE CLAWING, THE NIBBLING.
AND THEN YOU STARTED JUST SEEING THEM IN THE KITCHEN,
SCURRY BEHIND THE DISHES.
AND IT WASN'T REALLY THAT LONG BEFORE THE RATS WERE EVERYWHERE.
I WAS STARTING TO FEEL DESPERATE AT THAT POINT
BECAUSE THE RATS
WERE PRETTY MUCH DESTROYING THE HOUSE AROUND US.
MY HOUSE IS AN EMBARRASSMENT.
WHEN YOU OPEN THE FRONT DOOR,
PROBABLY THE FIRST THING THAT HITS YOU NOW IS THE SMELL.
WALKING THROUGH THE HOUSE,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE STEPPING ON OR HOW STURDY IT IS.
YOU DON'T IF YOUR FOOTING IS GONNA GIVE OUT FROM UNDER YOU,
IF YOU'RE GONNA GO FLYING,
AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE EVEN GONNA LAND IN.
Narrator: IN AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE THE BRUTAL NEW ENGLAND WINTERS,
26-YEAR-OLD JIMMY AND HIS MOTHER, CYNTHIA, HEADED SOUTH,
MOVING INTO THIS TWO-BEDROOM HOME IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.
Jimmy: WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE HOUSE.
BUT I NOTICED THAT THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE
PROBABLY AROUND 2003, 2004.
PILES OF CLOTHES STARTED TO APPEAR ON THE COUCH
BECAUSE MY MOTHER STARTED TO RUN OUT OF CLOSET ROOM.
THIS WAS THE KITCHEN.
IT'S KIND OF BECOME OVERRUN NOW.
YOU KIND OF HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU'RE COMING THROUGH HERE
'CAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF IN THE WAY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO FALL AND BREAK YOUR NECK.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANY DISHES IN THE SINK.
THE SINK HASN'T EVEN WORKED SINCE ABOUT 2004.
AND THE MICROWAVE'S A PIECE OF WORK, TOO.
IT'S KIND OF JURY-RIGGED, TOO,
WITH A STARTER FROM A GRILL. [ CHUCKLES ]
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT STUFF IS.
A CAN OF BEANS.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RATS KIND OF EVEN GOT INTO THAT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S IN HERE.
I THINK IT MAYBE HAD BEEN PEARS AT ONE POINT.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE ROUGHEST ROOM TO COME INTO.
THE DOOR HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO OPEN ALL THE WAY IN A COUPLE YEARS.
PRETTY MUCH JUST KIND OF HAVE TO SHOEHORN YOUR WAY THROUGH.
LAST TIME THE SHEET WERE CHANGED WAS PROBABLY 2005.
THE MICE AND RATS HAVE BEEN KIND OF HAVING A FIELD DAY IN HERE, TOO,
WITH ALL THE STUFFING.
IT'S MY MOTHER'S BEDROOM.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
IT BRINGS BACK TOO MANY MEMORIES RIGHT NOW.
LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS ROOM WAS WHEN MY MOTHER WAS STILL ALIVE.
Narrator: JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, JIMMY'S WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
WHEN HIS MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE IV LUNG CANCER.
Aimee: I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY SISTER THAT SAID,
"MOM'S IN THE HOSPITAL, AND SHE HAS WEEKS TO LIVE."
EXACTLY A WEEK TO THE DAY
AFTER WE PUT HER IN THE HOSPICE HOSPITAL, SHE DIED.
Jimmy: MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOTHER WAS REALLY GOOD.
MY SISTERS ALWAYS JOKE THAT BECAUSE I WAS THE YOUNGEST
THAT I WAS THE ONE SHE TRIED TO GET RIGHT.
MY MOM WAS, MOST OF MY LIFE GROWING UP, A MONSTER.
SHE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC FOR MANY YEARS.
SHE WAS QUITE ABUSIVE WHEN SHE WAS DRINKING.
Jimmy: IT WAS LIKE WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT MOTHERS.
FOR THEM, SHE WAS AN ABUSIVE ALCOHOLIC,
BUT FOR ME, SHE WAS A HOARDER THAT COLLECTED JUNK.
SHE KIND OF TRADED OFF HER ADDICTIONS,
AND HOARDING SEEMED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ALCOHOLISM.
HERE'S A BUNCH OF OLD NEWSPAPERS
THAT JUST NEVER GOT THROWN OUT -- 2008, JUNE.
UNDERNEATH HERE SOMEWHERE IS TWO DINING-ROOM CHAIRS.
BUT THERE'S TOO MUCH CLOTHES AND NEWSPAPERS TO FIND ANYTHING.
THIS IS THE BATHROOM,
BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S NOT REALLY THAT USABLE.
THE FAUCET WORKS AND EVERYTHING -- AND WATER RUNS --
BUT THE PIPE LEAKS IN THE WALL.
SO WE JUST HAVEN'T USED IT SINCE PROBABLY 2002.
YOU COULD USE THE TOILET, BUT YOU COULDN'T FLUSH IT MAYBE MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE A DAY.
OTHERWISE IT WOULD PROBABLY BACK UP.
MOST OF IT LOOKS LIKE CLOTHES AND BOOKS
AND MAIL THAT JUST NEVER GOT SORTED.
THE REASON I PROBABLY STAYED
WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL
WAS ALMOST OUT OF FEAR.
INTERNALLY, I STRUGGLED WITH THAT,
FIGURED, "WHY CAN'T I JUST MOVE OUT?
WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP FEELING LIKE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, IT'S MY FAULT?"
AND I NEVER ASKED FOR HELP
BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT MY SISTERS, THEY'D BLAME ME,
AND I WAS EMBARRASSED.
Aimee: I DID BLAME MY BROTHER FOR THIS AT FIRST.
WHY DIDN'T HE PICK THIS UP?
BUT THEN I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
COULD ANY OF US HAVE CONTROLLED HER?
NO. NONE OF US. IT WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE.
SHE HAS BEEN HOARDING JIMMY'S WHOLE LIFE.
IT'S ALL HE EVER KNEW.
Narrator: BUT WHEN CYNTHIA DIED FIVE MONTHS AGO,
SHE LEFT HER CHILDREN TO DEAL WITH THE MASSIVE HOARD
AND THE DILAPIDATED HOME THAT CONTAINS IT.
MY MOTHER HAD SAID TO US ALL BEFORE SHE PASSED
THAT IF ANYTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED TO HER,
THE HOUSE WAS PAID IN FULL AND SHE WANTED IT TO GO TO JIMMY.
BUT THE BANK JUST WAS NOT WORKING WITH US.
Cheryl: THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT SHE DOESN'T OWN THE HOUSE.
SO, SOMEWHERE IN THAT HOUSE
IS ALL THE PAPERWORK TO PROVE THAT SHE OWNED THE HOUSE.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR MOTHER'S HOME,
JIMMY'S SISTERS AIMEE AND CHERYL
HAVE COME TO FLORIDA ON THE HUNT FOR MORTGAGE PAPERS.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS SINCE AIMEE HAS BEEN INSIDE,
AND SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT SHE'S IN FOR.
OH...MY...
OH, MY [BLEEP]
[ Voice breaking ] MY GOD.
Cheryl: AIMEE.
NO!
Shh.
OH, MY GOD! HOW DID SHE LIVE LIKE THIS?!
AIMEE. Shh. Shh.
HOW?!
[ SOBBING ]
Shh.
THIS HOUSE [BLEEP] KILLED HER.
I KNOW.
OH, MY GOD!
WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS
WAS ABOUT 10 TIMES WORSE THAN I EXPECTED.
HOW THEY COULD LIVE IN IT IS JUST MIND-BLOWING.
OH, MY GOOD LORD.
WOW.
THIS IS TERRIBLE. OH, MY GOOD LORD.
OH, MY GOD.
I GOT TO GET OUT. I'M GONNA THROW UP.
I'M FEELING REALLY --
OH, MY GOD. I'M FEELING REALLY SICK.
I GOT TO GET OUT. I'M GONNA THROW UP.
I'M FEELING REALLY --
OH, MY GOD. I'M FEELING REALLY SICK.
Narrator: STILL REELING FROM THEIR MOTHER'S SUDDEN DEATH,
CYNTHIA'S DAUGHTERS AIMEE AND CHERYL HAVE COME TO FLORIDA
TO FINALIZE THE DETAILS OF THE ESTATE.
BUT THE SHOCKING CONDITIONS INSIDE
PREVENTED THEM FROM MOVING MUCH FURTHER THAN THE FRONT DOOR.
I KNOW THAT THAT HOUSE DID KILL HER.
I KNOW FOR A FACT. THERE'S SO MUCH BLACK MOLD IN IT.
I COULDN'T STAY IN THERE LONGER THAN TWO OR THREE MINUTES
BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING ME PHYSICALLY SICK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE LIVED IN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T GET IT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LIVE LIKE THAT.
WHY? WHY DID IT HAVE TO COME TO THIS? WHY?
AND I'VE ONLY WALKED INTO ONE AND A HALF ROOMS.
I'M JUST...
I'M TERRIFIED AT WHAT'S GONNA BE IN THE NEXT ROOM.
Jimmy: I THINK IT JUST ALL HIT HER LIKE A TON OF BRICKS
AND HAVING THE REMINDER THAT MOM'S NOT HERE ANYMORE,
THEN SEEING THE SHAPE SHE LIVED IN KIND OF SHOCKED HER.
AND SHE COULDN'T REALLY HANDLE IT.
MY STOMACH IS JUST IN TOTAL, TOTAL KNOTS RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.
I-I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.
OH, MY GOD. IT'S A NIGHTMARE IN THERE.
HOW THE HELL ARE WE GONNA CLEAN IT?
THAT'S BAD. THAT'S...
I CAN'T EVEN COMPREHEND THIS. I REALLY CAN'T.
Aimee: I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN --
Cheryl: I'LL LOOK THROUGH IT, OKAY?
YOU OKAY?
I'M FINE.
I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY -- MY STOMACH IS IN, LIKE, KNOTS.
[ COUGHS ]
THAT HOUSE IS NOT HEALTHY.
IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE CONDEMNED.
BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO IT
BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE MORTGAGE PAPERWORK.
I'M WILLING TO GO IN THERE AND BUST MY BUTT
AND DO WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO
TO GO THROUGH THINGS AND TRY TO FIND THINGS.
LET'S GO, THEN.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO THIS. ARE YOU GONNA GO IN?
NO. YOU'RE GOING IN.
OH, GOOD GOD. OH, GOD. OH, GOD.
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
JUST STEP OVER CRAP.
OH, MY GOD.
THIS IS IT.
HOW DID SHE SLEEP? WHERE?
SOMEWHERE IN HERE. THERE'S HOLES AND EVERYTHING.
YEAH, THEY'RE RAT HOLES.
LOOK AT THE CLOSET!
MY MOTHER'S ROOM IS UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE'S STUFF KNEE HIGH, JUST PAPERWORK UPON PAPERWORK,
CLOTHES, UNPACKED CLOTHES, CLOTHES NEVER TAKEN OUT OF BAGS.
THERE'S NO LOGIC TO IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
I -- OH, MY GOD. DON'T PICK ANYTHING UP!
WHY?
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SCARE A RAT!
YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER SEEING THIS HOUSE,
THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS IT NEEDS TO BE CONDEMNED.
[ GRUNTS ] OH [BLEEP]
CAN YOU HELP ME?
[BLEEP]
IT'S DEVASTATING. [ SNIFFLES ]
THIS IS DISGUSTING.
WHY DIDN'T SHE ASK ANYBODY?
OH, MY GOD.
BUGS, RATS, ROACHES, FECES.
I MEAN, THE RATS ATE THROUGH THE BED.
AND THEY ATE THE STUFFING OUT OF HER PILLOWS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
NOBODY ON GOD'S EARTH SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THAT.
IT'S TERRIBLE.
OH, MY GOD. MOM, THANKS.
Narrator: DESPITE THE HORRIFIC CONDITIONS INSIDE
AND CONCERNS FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH,
CYNTHIA'S CHILDREN KEEP THE SEARCH GOING.
Cheryl: TO FIND THE MORTGAGE PAPERWORK.
WE'RE ALL BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO TRY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO FIND THINGS.
HERE.
JUNK. JUNK. JUNK.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING IN HERE THAT ISN'T TRASH.
2008.
2008.
OH!
[ GAGS ]
WHAT ARE THOSE?
OH, YUCK. BUGS.
[BLEEP] BUGS.
PICTURES. PICTURES.
CREDIT CARDS. CREDIT CARDS.
CREDIT CARDS.
THIS IS SERIOUSLY GROSS.
[ MUSIC BOX CHIMES ]
AWW.
WE WERE CLEANING THE HOUSE FOR HOURS AND HOURS ON END
AND ALLS WE FOUND WAS CRAP -- MEANINGLESS CRAP,
NOTHING THAT MEANT ANYTHING TO ANY OF US.
CHERYL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT?
THIS IS [BLEEP] GROSS.
AIMEE...
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA FIND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
I MEAN, I KNOW WE'LL DIE TRYING,
BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA FIND IT.
Aimee: MY MOTHER WAS A HOARDER.
SHE HOARDED BIG-TIME.
IF YOU'RE A HOARDER, CLEAN YOUR HOUSE.
DON'T LEAVE THE MESS FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT. YOU'RE CAUSING 10 TIMES MORE PAIN.
Narrator: AFTER HOURS OF SEARCHING THROUGH THE CLUTTER,
CYNTHIA'S CHILDREN HAVE COME UP EMPTY IN THEIR SEARCH
FOR MORTGAGE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE HOARD.
DESPERATE FOR ANY INSIGHT WHATSOEVER,
AIMEE SUGGESTS SOMETHING DRASTIC --
BRINGING IN A MEDIUM
TO HELP LEAD THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE DECIDED THAT TIME THAT WE HAD TO CALL ON A MEDIUM
OR WE WOULD NEVER FIND THEM.
I BELIEVE IN THE SPIRIT WORLD. I BELIEVE IN MEDIUMS.
I BELIEVE THEY CAN HELP YOU.
I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL GOING INTO IT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS VERY DESPERATE
AND WILLING TO TRY JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AT THAT POINT.
Narrator: SO, THE FAMILY CALLS IN MEDIUM MORIAH RHAME
TO SEE IF SHE CAN CHANNEL CYNTHIA FROM THE AFTERLIFE.
Rhame: I HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THAT, THEY LAUGH.
IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SKEPTICS. WE SHOULD ALL BE SKEPTICAL.
BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO OPEN YOUR HEART
TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THINGS EXIST BEYOND THE MATERIAL PLANE.
HI. I'M HERE TO HELP.
Aimee: HI. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
JUST DON'T INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO ME
BECAUSE I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO HELP YOU GUYS OUT.
Cheryl: VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
Aimee: SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
SHE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT US. SHE DIDN'T KNOW OUR NAMES.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WE WERE, WHOSE HOUSE IT WAS.
Rhame: I WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMED
BY THE ENERGY OF THE HOARDING ITSELF.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, I WOULD SAY, IS A COMFORTABLE FEELING.
DO YOU GUYS WANT TO ASK HER ANYTHING?
BUT I FELT THE PAIN OF THE CHILDREN,
AND THAT WAS WHAT MY SINGLE FOCUS WAS ON,
WAS HELPING THEM HEAL.
WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE ARE TWO SPIRITS HERE.
THERE'S AN OLDER GENTLEMAN, AND THERE'S A LADY.
NOW, THE GENTLEMAN, I WOULD SAY, IS PROBABLY 5'9", 5'10".
I WOULD THINK
HE WAS MAYBE SOMEWHERE IN HIS 70s WHEN HE CROSSED.
BUT I THINK HE THINKS YOU WERE NAMED AFTER HIM.
AND HE WANTS YOU GUYS TO KNOW
THAT HE'S HERE TO HELP ALL OF YOU.
Jimmy: I AM NAMED AFTER MY GRANDFATHER,
AND IT SHOCKED ME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD SLIP OUT
AND I'D NEVER TOLD ANYONE THAT I WAS NAMED AFTER HIM.
SO IT JUST BLEW MY MIND.
WITHIN...10 SECONDS OF HER TALKING,
WE KNEW IT WAS THE REAL DEAL.
THE FIRST SENTENCE THAT CAME OUT OF HER MOUTH WAS DEAD ON.
SPOT ON.
Rhame: NOW, THE LADY THAT'S HERE,
SHE'S PROBABLY, I WOULD SAY, 5'3", 5'4".
AND SHE WANTS TO SAY THAT SHE ALWAYS FELT POORLY
FOR CHILDREN SHE WORKED WITH
BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THEY HAD SO MANY ISSUES.
AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHE HAD ISSUES.
AND SHE'S NOT THEIR MOM, BUT, LIKE, A SURROGATE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED,
BUT SHE WANTS TO SAY THAT SHE WATCHES OVER THEM STILL.
SO, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WORKED IN, LIKE, A GROUP HOME
OR A HOSPITAL OR SOMETHING WITH PEDIATRICS?
OH, GOD.
WHAT IS THE, UM...
CERTIFICATE FOR GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE
THAT SHE WANTS SOMEBODY TO PUT ON A WALL?
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SNAKES AROUND THE STAFF.
IT'S HER NURSING.
NURSING DEGREE.
OKAY. SHE JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY PUTS THAT ON THE WALL
BECAUSE IT TOOK HER A LOT TO GET THAT.
IT DID. IT DID. SHE WENT THROUGH HELL.
AND SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE CAN STILL HEAR YOU TALKING.
SHE'S NOT HEARING IMPAIRED.
SO, SHE'S VERY FUNNY, AND I THINK
THAT SHE'D PROBABLY TALK FOR 15 HOURS STRAIGHT IF I LET HER.
SHE WANTS TO SAY THAT SHE'S SORRY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S TWO DADS IN THE FAMILY...
YES.
BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU GUYS TO ABANDON HIM.
AND SHE WANTS YOU TO PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF HER FAVORITE SON.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND SHE'S SORRY
THAT EMOTIONALLY SOMETIMES YOU HAD TO BE HER MOTHER.
OH, MY GOSH.
AND SHE FEELS LIKE YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD.
AND SOMETIMES SHE FEELS LIKE YOU FELT EMPTY INSIDE
BECAUSE YOU GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE,
AND SHE WAS EMPTY AND SHE COULDN'T BE FILLED UP.
SO, YOU WERE MORE OF HER MOTHER.
AND SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW SHE LOVES YOU WITH ALL HER HEART.
AND SHE'S SO SORRY.
[ SOBBING ]
Cheryl: HOW DOES SHE KNOW ALL THIS?
THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD HAVE KNOWN ANY OF THAT STUFF. NO WAY.
SO I BELIEVE. I BELIEVE NOW.
DEFINITELY.
CAN YOU TELL MY MOM WE LOVE HER?
Rhame: SHE SAYS SHE CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE.
OH, MY GOD. I LOVE YOU, MOM.
I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.
SHE SAYS, "DON'T LOOK UP. JUST LOOK AROUND YOUR SHOULDER."
[ SIGHS ]
AND SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT GETTING INTO ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, DRAFTING,
BUT SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW IT'S ONLY TWO YEARS.
SO WHY NOT JUST DO IT FOR HER?
SHE SPECIFICALLY WANTS HIM TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE,
AND SHE SAID, "ARCHITECTURE."
AND JIMMY STARTED CRYING AT THAT POINT
BECAUSE HIS DAD'S AN ARCHITECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY SHE SAVED SO MUCH STUFF.
WHY DID SHE CHOOSE HER STUFF OVER HER KIDS?
SHE FEELS, IN THE EARLY 1990s, THIS STARTED HAPPENING TO HER.
AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE.
CLOTHES SOMEHOW BECAME AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION FOR HER.
SHE WANTS TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOR THE CLOTHES
BECAUSE SHE FEELS THAT SHE ABANDONED YOU EMOTIONALLY.
AND SHE FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF HURT FEELINGS
THAT YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT.
SO SHE'S ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS.
SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT IT'S YOUR FAULT
OR YOU COULD HAVE FIXED THIS OR MADE THIS BETTER.
AND SHE KNOWS YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU.
Jimmy: WHEN THE MEDIUM TOLD ME THAT MY MOTHER WAS TELLING ME
TO LET THE GUILT GO AND NOT HOLD MYSELF RESPONSIBLE,
IT KIND OF FELT LIKE A WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS
BECAUSE I'D ALWAYS BEEN DOING THAT.
I FELT LIKE MAYBE IF I DID SOMETHING MORE, SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED.
AND SHE WAS BASICALLY SAYING, "IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
IT'S MINE. DON'T BLAME YOURSELF."
HE THINKS SHE'S JUST FINE.
Narrator: WITH CYNTHIA'S CHILDREN FINALLY GETTING ANSWERS
TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE HAUNTED THEM,
THEIR FOCUS NOW TURNS TO SOMETHING FAR MORE SPECIFIC,
AND THEY'RE HOPING MEDIUM MORIAH
CAN HELP CHANNEL THEIR MOTHER ONCE AGAIN.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PRECIOUS THINGS IN HERE
THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO FIND,
AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A WAY
THAT YOU CAN ALL COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MOM.
Cheryl: SHE TAUGHT US ALL,
WE TAKE A PERSONAL NECKLACE AND YOU HOLD YOUR HAND OUT.
AND IT CAN ONLY ANSWER "YES," "NO,"
OR "I DON'T KNOW" QUESTIONS.
A BIG CIRCLE LIKE THIS IS "YES."
AND BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT WILL BE NO.
AND IF IT DOESN'T MOVE, IT MEANS "I DON'T KNOW" OR "MAYBE."
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DIVINING ROD.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO USE THAT BELONGED TO YOUR MOM
THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO USE FOR THIS?
WE HAVE A NECKLACE.
OKAY. AND WHY IS THAT NECKLACE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
HER ASHES ARE IN THERE.
AWW. HER ASHES ARE IN THERE.
LET'S JUST GIVE IT A TRY RIGHT NOW.
PUT YOUR LEFT HAND UNDERNEATH IT.
AND JUST SAY, "MOM, ARE YOU HERE?"
MOM, ARE YOU HERE?
YES.
OH, GOD.
Rhame: HE THINKS SHE'S JUST FINE.
Aimee: I WAS HOPING THAT A MEDIUM WOULD HELP US FIND THE ANSWERS.
DOES MY MOTHER OWN THE HOUSE?
CAN SHE JUST POINT US TO THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
Narrator: WHEN CYNTHIA DIED FIVE MONTHS AGO,
HER THREE CHILDREN INHERITED HER HOUSE,
ALONG WITH THE HOARD INSIDE OF IT.
NOW, UNABLE TO LOCATE
ESSENTIAL BANK DOCUMENTS PROVING OWNERSHIP OF THE HOUSE,
HER CHILDREN HAVE TAKEN A LEAP OF FAITH,
BRINGING IN A SPIRITUAL MEDIUM
IN HOPES THAT SHE CAN CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA THROUGH A NECKLACE.
Aimee: EVERYBODY'S SKEPTICAL AT FIRST,
BUT THEN WHEN YOU ASK THE QUESTION
AND YOU SEE THAT YOU'RE NOT TOUCHING IT AND IT'S MOVING,
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVE.
Rhame: LET'S TRY USING THE NECKLACE AND SEE IF WE CAN CONTACT
YOUR MOM TO SEE IF YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT SPACE.
MOM, AM I IN THE RIGHT AREA
TO BE FINDING WHAT I NEED TO FIND?
YES. BIG YES.
OKAY.
OKAY. SO, NOW YOU HAVE A PLACE TO START.
RIGHT. RIGHT.
SOMEWHERE IN THIS BACK AREA,
YOU MIGHT FIND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
OH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF PAPERWORK IN HERE.
WOW. LOOK AT ALL THE PAPERWORK IN HERE.
TAXES.
FROM 1983.
WOW.
Jimmy: I WAS -- I WON'T LIE -- SKEPTICAL.
BUT THE MEDIUM DID HELP US MAJORLY
BECAUSE SHE TOLD US THAT MOST OF THE STUFF WE WERE LOOKING FOR
WAS IN ONE AREA.
AND I WAS THRILLED.
A LOT OF STUFF IN HERE.
AN OLD PHONE BILL.
1979.
REALLY, MOM?
GOOD LORD.
LET'S USE YOUR MOM'S NECKLACE REAL QUICK
AND SEE IF YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT SPACE.
ALL RIGHT.
MOM, IS THERE ANYTHING IMPORTANT IN THIS AREA --
THIS BOX, THE DESK, THE COMPUTER --
THAT I CAN FIND?
AND YOU GOT A YES?
OH, YEAH. BIG TIME. LOOK AT THAT. WOW.
OH, THERE'S A BUNCH OF PAPERWORK IN HERE.
YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK IN --
OH, THERE'S SOME JEWELRY IN HERE. OH, GOOD LORD.
AFTER SHE HAD LEARNED HOW TO USE THE NECKLACE AS A PENDULUM,
FOR CHERYL, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE COULD PHYSICALLY FEEL
HER MOTHER COMING THROUGH THE NECKLACE.
HONEST TO GOD, I WAS SO SKEPTICAL,
BUT NOT ANYMORE -- I BELIEVE.
Narrator: WITH SOME PROMISING EARLY DISCOVERIES,
CHERYL IS CLINGING TO THE HOPE THAT THE NECKLACE WILL GUIDE HER
TO THE ONE THING THAT CAN SAVE THE HOUSE,
BUT IT STILL HASN'T HAPPENED.
MOM?
WE NEED TO FIND THE PAPERWORK. IS IT IN THIS ROOM ANYWHERE?
IT'S NOT.
IS IT JUST SENTIMENTAL STUFF THAT'S IN THIS ROOM?
YES. BIG YES. BIG YES.
SO, LET'S ASK YOUR MOM
IF THERE EVER WAS ANY PAPERWORK TO SAVE THE HOUSE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WAS EVER ANY PAPERWORK AT ALL
TO SAVE THIS HOUSE?
NO.
[ SNIFFLES ]
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
IT'S OKAY.
YOU'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS.
I KNOW I WILL.
ALL RIGHT. OHH.
LET'S GO ON OUT.
A LOT OF TIMES IN MY CAREER,
I'M PRESENTED WITH PEOPLE
THAT WANT VERY SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET THE ANSWERS
THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND TODAY, THEY DIDN'T FIND
WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR,
BUT I THINK, MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING,
THEY NOW HAVE A PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY CAN LET GO,
THEY CAN MOVE ON A PATH OF HEALING.
OKAY. I GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM MOM BACK THERE.
THERE'S NO PAPERWORK.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A LOT OF SENTIMENTAL THINGS
IN THAT BACK ROOM.
SO I GUESS AT THIS POINT,
WE'RE DONE LOOKING FOR PAPERWORK.
SHE DOES NOT...
THERE IS NO PAPER.
THERE IS NO PAPERWORK THAT SAVES THE HOUSE.
SO SHE DOESN'T OWN THE HOUSE?
NOTHING. NOTHING.
WHY WOULD SHE TELL US SO?
I-I DON'T KNOW, AIMEE. I DON'T KNOW.
Rhame: ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
TAKE IT EASY.
YES.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY TRUSTS IN THE MEDIUM,
THEY DON'T WANT TO RELY SOLELY ON A NECKLACE
TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF THEIR MOTHER'S HOUSE.
Cheryl: I WON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE
UNTIL WE HAVE EXHAUSTED EVERY LAST AVENUE.
SO WE'LL TRY ANYTHING.
Aimee: I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY HOPE.
I'M NOT SURE WE'RE GONNA FIND ANYTHING.
WORST CASE SCENARIO, WE LOSE THE HOUSE.
IT'S GONE.
Narrator: DESPITE BEING TOLD BY THE MEDIUM
THAT THERE WAS NO PAPERWORK TO SAVE THEIR MOTHER'S HOUSE,
JIMMY AND HIS SISTERS
AREN'T QUITE READY TO GIVE UP THEIR SEARCH.
WE WERE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE BANK AS IS.
LET THEM DEAL WITH IT. THEIR HEADACHE.
BUT THEN WE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
JIMMY HAS NO PLACE TO GO. THIS IS HIS HOUSE.
WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT WHAT LITTLE OUR FAMILY HAS.
[ TRUCK BEEPING ]
Narrator: IN ORDER TO SALVAGE THE HOME, THEY'LL FIRST NEED TO CLEAR OUT
MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF GARBAGE AND CLUTTER.
A TEAM OF HAULERS
LED BY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER JUDY MAUER
PLANS TO DO JUST THAT IN LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS.
Mauer: I HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED INTO A HOME
WITH THIS MUCH RAT INFESTATION AND SQUALOR.
A LOT OF EXTRA MEASURES HAD TO BE TAKEN TODAY.
Woman: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
WE ARE THE BIOHAZARD TEAM HERE TODAY.
OUR MAIN CONCERN IS YOU GUYS' SAFETY.
SO PLEASE, EVERYBODY, WEAR YOUR TYVEK SUITS AT ALL TIMES,
GLOVES AT ALL TIMES, YOUR RESPIRATOR.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE BREATHING IN ANYTHING IN THERE.
Michael: ANOTHER THING, RAT BITE FEVER.
IF YOU SEE A RAT, DON'T CORNER 'EM.
DON'T GET SCRATCHED BY 'EM. DON'T TRY TO CATCH 'EM. YOU'RE NOT A HERO.
AND ONE MORE THING, GUYS. JUST REMEMBER,
WHEN RATS WALK, AS THEY'RE WALKING, THEY'RE URINATING.
SO EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOUCHING
IS BASICALLY GONNA BE COVERED IN RAT URINE.
SO THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHY YOU DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH YOUR FACE WHEN YOU EXIT THE HOUSE.
THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS REMOVE THOSE GLOVES.
SO, JUST, EVERYBODY BE SAFE.
IF YOU FIND ANY CARCASSES, LET US KNOW.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEM AND CLEAN THAT SPOT IMMEDIATELY.
Jimmy: SEEING A HAZMAT TEAM GO INTO THE HOUSE
WAS KIND OF SHOCKING 'CAUSE I'VE JUST BEEN LIVING THERE,
AND NOW THEY'RE GOING IN LIKE IT'S A TOXIC-WASTE DUMP.
Narrator: AS THE BIOHAZARD TEAM ASSESSES
THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS INSIDE,
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST DR. JULIE PIKE
PREPARES FOR THE EMOTIONAL FALLOUT THAT MIGHT OCCUR.
Dr. Pike: I AM A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE UNDERESTIMATING
HOW DIFFICULT THIS DAY IS GOING TO BE.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE VERY HARD FOR THEM.
I THINK A LOT OF FEELINGS ARE GONNA COME UP.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THE THREE
REALLY HAVE THE TOOLS TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGING EMOTIONS.
[ CRYING ]
Narrator: WHILE THE HAULERS ARE MAKING PROGRESS,
IT'S BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT
FOR THE CHILDREN TO CONTAIN THEIR EMOTIONS.
[ Voice breaking ] I JUST MISS HER SO MUCH.
YEAH. YOU LOVED HER.
SHE WAS MY MOM.
MM-HMM.
I JUST -- IT SUCKS.
HOW DO YOU ABANDON YOUR KIDS FOR CRAP?!
HOW? SOMEBODY TELL ME HOW.
I THINK TODAY ALL THREE SIBLINGS ARE GRIEVING IN THEIR OWN WAY.
THEY'RE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THE HOME, LOSS OF THEIR MOTHER.
AND THEY'RE HAVING TO LOOK
AT THE REALITY OF WHAT THEIR MOTHER REALLY LIVED IN
AND THE DEPTH OF HER PROBLEM.
Narrator: BUT AMIDST ALL THE TRASH AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL,
THE FAMILY IS ABLE TO FIND ONE ITEM WORTH SAVING.
Cheryl: AIMEE, LOOK.
[ GASPS ] YOU FOUND IT!
YOU GOT IT! JIMMY!
YOU GOT IT!
Dr. Pike: WHAT IS IT?
OH, MY --
MY MOTHER GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE WHEN SHE WAS 38 YEARS OLD
FROM NURSING SCHOOL,
AND SHE SAID SHE WANTED HER DIPLOMA FOUND
AND SHE WANTED HIM TO HANG IT ON THE WALL.
THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.
GOT IT?
SO, THIS IS A STACK THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK THROUGH.
YES. SHE'S GOT SEVERAL LIFE-INSURANCE POLICIES.
YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT IT, OKAY?
OOH, A MORTGAGE --
MARRIAGE.
NO. NO. NO.
AWW!
THIS IS FROM WHEN MY SON WAS BORN.
SHE SAVED IT. "IT'S A BOY."
SHE SAVED EVERYTHING, APPARENTLY.
WOW. HE'S 22 NOW.
I FOUND A RAT JUST NOW.
THERE WAS A NEST BEHIND THE TOILET.
I'M GONNA PUT HIM IN THE BIOHAZARD BIN.
RATS ARE DEFINITELY VERY, VERY DANGEROUS CREATURES.
THERE WAS A LOT OF RAT DROPPINGS AND URINE
THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE A HEALTH HAZARD
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT
DUE TO HANTAVIRUS.
WHOA!
HANTAVIRUS IS CAUSED BY RAT URINE, RAT FECES
GETTING INTO YOUR LUNGS,
GETTING INTO THE MUCUS MEMBRANES OF YOUR NOSE.
AND IT DOES CAUSE YOU TO BECOME VERY ILL
AND POSSIBLY DEATH IF IT'S NOT TREATED CORRECTLY.
THIS HOUSE IS CRAWLING.
QUANTITY WISE,
THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS.
I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW SOMEBODY COULD POSSIBLY LIVE LIKE THIS.
IT'S MY GRANDFATHER'S DESK.
[ SNIFFLES ]
I CAN SEE MY GRANDFATHER SITTING AT IT.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THIS, EVER.
Dr. Pike: I THINK TODAY AIMEE HAS BEEN PING-PONGING
BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND ANGER.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED
ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO GO FROM HERE.
I THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD BLOW UP.
THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S.
I SAT IN THIS CHAIR MY ENTIRE [BLEEP] LIFE,
AND NOW THIS IS WHAT MY MOTHER DID TO IT.
I'M PISSED RIGHT NOW.
LOOK AT IT! IT'S [BLEEP]
THIS IS WHAT LIFE MEANT TO HER.
SHE WENT...BALLISTIC.
Cheryl: I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
ALL I KNOW IS I LOOKED,
AND SHE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET,
BEATING ON THE CHAIR, KICKING IT, SCREAMING,
CRYING, YELLING AT MY MOTHER.
I'M JUST NOW COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
SHE WENT NUTS ON THAT CHAIR SPECIFICALLY.
[ Voice breaking ] SHE DID THIS TO US!
SHE DID IT!
AIMEE. AIMEE.
[ SOBS ]
OKAY.
[ Voice breaking ] I AM JUST SO ANGRY AT WHAT SHE DID TO US!
SHE DIDN'T LOVE US ENOUGH,
AND THIS CRAP MEANT MORE TO HER THAN US.
I WAS ANGRY. I WAS VERY, VERY, VERY ANGRY.
I WAS ANGRY FOR HER DYING, FOR LEAVING US THIS MESS,
FOR NOT LOVING US ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF IT,
FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING.
SHE CHOSE HER HOARDING OVER HER KIDS.
Narrator: THE MASSIVE CLEANOUT OF HER DECEASED MOTHER'S HOME
HAS CAUSED TREMENDOUS GRIEF FOR AIMEE AND HER SIBLINGS.
WHILE DR. PIKE DOES HER BEST TO KEEP AIMEE CALM,
THE REST OF THE TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY
TO FINISH CLEANING OUT MORE THAN A DECADE OF CLUTTER.
Mauer: TODAY WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THE TEAM ACCOMPLISHED A WHOLE LOT MORE
THAN I THOUGHT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WHEN I FIRST SAW THE HOME.
MOVING FORWARD FROM HERE,
THERE'S MOST OF THE MASTER BEDROOM LEFT TO DO,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE OUR CHALLENGE.
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO GET THE HOUSE EMPTIED,
SAVE WHAT WE COULD SAVE, AND GET ON WITH MY LIFE
AND TRY TO GRIEVE MY MOM A WAY A KID SHOULD.
Narrator: FOUR WEEKS HAVE PASSED
SINCE JIMMY AND HIS SISTERS PARTICIPATED
IN A MASSIVE CLEANUP AT THEIR DECEASED MOTHER'S HOME.
TODAY CHERYL AND AIMEE ARE RETURNING TO FLORIDA
TO SEE THE PROGRESS JIMMY HAS MADE SINCE THEY LEFT.
Cheryl: THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE,
THE HOUSE STILL HAD QUITE A BIT OF STUFF IN IT.
WE HAD TO LEAVE MY BROTHER IN CHARGE
OF TAKING CARE OF THE REST OF THE CLEANUP.
SO I WAS KIND OF HESITANT THAT IT WOULD EVEN GET DONE.
I HAD APPREHENSION. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD SEE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN WE OPENED THE DOOR.
OH, MY GOD.
WOW. IT LOOKS LIKE A HOUSE.
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT THE KITCHEN.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE?
WOW.
Jimmy: THIS IS THE PART THAT SHOCKS ME,
'CAUSE THIS WHOLE WALL WAS, LIKE, BLACK FROM --
HOLY CRAP.
NOW IT'S CLEAN.
YEAH, IT'S WHITE.
LOOK AT THAT. WOW.
WOW.
THIS IS A CUTE HOUSE.
THAT'S NICE.
OH, WOW.
I THOUGHT JIMMY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I GOT TO GIVE HIM CREDIT.
THE WHOLE HOUSE IS SPOTLESS.
OH, MY GOD.
THE FAMILY ROOM.
THE FAMILY ROOM.
HOLY CRAP.
LOOK AT THAT. I CAN SEE FLOOR.
ISN'T THAT NEAT?
WOW.
JIMMY, YOU DID GOOD.
Jimmy: YEAH.
YOU DID VERY GOOD.
Aimee: IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.
IT LOOKS...
LIKE A HOUSE.
Cheryl: I DIDN'T THINK
THERE WAS ANY WAY THAT IT WOULD BE AS CLEAN AS IT IS.
IT'S LIKE A WHOLE NEW HOUSE.
OH, MY GOD.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE TUB WAS THIS WAY.
NO.
WOW. LOOK AT THE SINK!
KIND OF SHOCKING THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FIXTURES NOW.
AND YOU CAN TAKE A BATH IF YOU WANTED TO.
YEAH, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO THE BATHTUB NOW.
[ TOILET FLUSHES ]
[ GASPS ] IT FLUSHES!
JIMMY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB
ON MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS DONE,
AND IT LOOKS AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED
FOR WHAT IT'S BEEN THROUGH.
OH, MY GOD.
OH, MY GOD.
WOW!
HOLY CRAP.
LOOK AT THAT.
WOW.
THIS IS...
THIS IS CRAZY.
IT'S NICE, HUH?
THIS IS ALL SURREAL.
THAT'S CRAZY.
Aimee: NO SMELL. NO CLOTHES. NO JUNK.
CLEAN FLOORS.
CLEAN -- WELL, AS CLEAN AS YOU CAN GET -- WALLS.
LOOKED REALLY GOOD. LOOKED LIKE A LIVABLE HOME.
LOOKED LIKE
SOMEBODY COULD ACTUALLY LIVE IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN.
Narrator: BUT DESPITE THE MONTHS OF EMOTIONAL TURMOIL
AND HARD WORK SPENT TRYING TO SAVE THEIR MOTHER'S HOUSE,
IN THE END, IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
I TALKED TO SOMEBODY AT THE BANK, AND MOM WAS RIGHT.
SHE DID OWN THE HOUSE UP UNTIL 2010, WHEN SHE REFINANCED.
THE BANK NEVER GAVE HER THE PAPERWORK.
THEREFORE, THE HOUSE IS GONE.
Cheryl: SO SHE REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS PAID OFF.
SHE DID THINK IT WAS PAID OFF. SHE WASN'T LYING.
Aimee: I'VE TRIED EVERY OPTION OUT THERE, AND THERE ARE NONE.
THERE'S NONE. WE CAN'T SAVE THE HOUSE.
I'VE TRIED TO SAVE THE HOUSE FOR HIM. THERE'S NO SAVING IT.
IT'S TIME FOR A FRESH START FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW?
IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE ON WITH YOUR OWN DREAMS, JIM.
YOU KNOW? YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF THE SHADOW
AND MOVE ON BY YOURSELF, NOT WITH HER.
AND I KNOW YOU CAN. I KNOW YOU CAN.
WELL, SEEING IT EMPTY MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER.
NOW THAT IT'S ALL GONE, IT'S JUST AN EMPTY SHELL.
[ SIGHS ] ALL RIGHT. I GUESS IT'S TIME.
LET ME GET THE PAPERWORK.
[ PEN CLICKS ]
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
WE READY FOR THIS?
NOT REALLY.
OKAY. YOU'RE NEXT.
SIGNING THAT PIECE OF PAPER, IT WAS SOMEWHAT EMOTIONAL,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF
BECAUSE THAT'S IT. WE'RE DONE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP CARRYING THIS BURDEN.
DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE THIS HARD, DID YOU?
NOPE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO JUST SAY GOODBYE.
Jimmy: IT'S OVER WITH. THE HOUSE IS CLEANED.
WE'VE GOTTEN EVERYTHING OF VALUE, PERSONAL AND SENTIMENTAL,
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
AND WE CAN CLOSE THIS CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES
AND HOPEFULLY MOVE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.
I GUESS THIS IS IT. YOU READY?
THAT'S IT.
[ Voice breaking ] IT'S ALL FINAL.
IT'S DONE.
AND I DON'T EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HER OR HER HOARDING AGAIN.
[ SNIFFLES ]
IT'S ALL GONE.