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WE BOUGHT BONNIE'S HOUSE SIGHT UNSEEN.
Tad: WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOUSE,
WE DID NOT KNOW THAT BONNIE WAS A HOARDER.
I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A HOARDER.
Terri: MY MOM'S HOME -- I WOULD COMPARE IT
TO A REALLY BAD, STINKY DUMPSTER.
Joanne: I'VE GONE TO JAIL SEVERAL TIMES FOR HOARDING.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT.
I NEED TO SEE PROGRESS,
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN PROGRESS SINCE DAY 1 I'VE BEEN IN HERE.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
IN 40 DAYS, WE'LL BE TAKING OWNERSHIP.
AND WHATEVER'S LEFT IN YOUR HOUSE,
WE WILL BE THROWING IN THE DUMPSTER.
Bonnie: IT'S STILL MY HOUSE AT THIS POINT.
IT'S STILL MY STUFF.
Dr. Beaton: I DON'T FEEL LIKE SHE REALLY UNDERSTANDS
HOW GRAVE THE SITUATION IS.
"GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT."
Dr. Noble: SHE WAS IN THE DUMPSTER,
PICKING THROUGH THINGS THAT WE HAD ALREADY DISCARDED.
IT'S MY STUFF!
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS A CRIME.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
NOTHING IN THERE.
I DON'T USUALLY GO IN DUMPSTERS BEHIND APARTMENT BUILDINGS
BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY NOT ANYTHING THERE.
BUT, SEE, IF YOU DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE STREET,
YOU CAN SOMETIMES SEE GOOD STUFF SITTING OUT.
PEOPLE THROW AWAY GOOD STUFF
BECAUSE THEY EITHER DON'T WANT IT OR CAN'T USE IT
OR IT'S EXPIRED A LITTLE BIT.
Narrator: IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, COMPULSIVE HOARDER JOANNE
HAS SPENT THE PAST FOUR DECADES
FILLING UP HER 945-SQUARE-FOOT HOME
WITH TREASURES SHE FINDS IN DUMPSTERS.
Joanne: IT'S THE THING I DO.
SOME PEOPLE PLAY GOLF.
SOME PEOPLE WATCH FOOTBALL AT TIMES.
SOME PEOPLE DRINK.
BUT I'M JUST A HOARDER.
IF I HAD TO COMPARE MY MOM'S HOME TO SOMETHING,
I WOULD COMPARE IT TO A REALLY BAD, STINKY...
DUMPSTER.
Joanne: OH!
WELL, HERE'S SOMETHING I LOVE IS TIGERS,
AND I GET ALL THE TIGERS I CAN IF THEY'RE A REASONABLE PRICE.
AND I WENT TO A YARD SALE,
AND THERE WAS A SWEATSHIRT THERE WITH A TIGER HEAD ON IT.
OH! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
HAND-PAINTED PICTURE OF A TIGER HEAD ON THE SWEATSHIRT.
OH! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I WANTED IT.
BUT SHE WANTED $5 FOR IT, AND I JUST COULDN'T PAY $5 FOR IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
I STARTED TO GO TO YARD SALES, AND IT JUST GOT OUT OF HAND.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SO WONDERFUL
TO GET ALL THIS STUFF AT YARD SALES,
AND NOT SPEND AN ARM AND A LEG FOR IT.
OH, GOLLY, HERE'S A FUNNY-LOOKING FROG.
49 CENTS.
HE'S KIND OF INTERESTING, DON'T YOU THINK?
GIVES ME PLEASURE AND A SENSE OF SATISFACTION
TO HAVE ALL THIS STUFF --
CLOTHES, BOOKS, MAGAZINES.
I GOT PICTURES OF TIGERS IN THE HOUSE,
AND I LOVE STUFFED ANIMALS
AND FIGURINES, IF I CAN FIND THEM.
I WOULD SAY SHE KNOWS SHE'S CERTAINLY SUFFERING FROM,
YOU KNOW, A DISEASE OF HOARDING,
AND IT HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN SO BAD
THAT I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE HER.
Narrator: TERRI'S CONCERN FOR HER MOTHER'S DECLINING STATE
ONLY INTENSIFIED WHEN JOANNE'S COMPULSIVE COLLECTING
LANDED HER BEHIND BARS.
Joanne: I'VE GONE TO JAIL SEVERAL TIMES FOR HOARDING,
A TOTAL OF ABOUT 30 DAYS, WHICH I THINK IS TERRIBLE.
Narrator: DURING HER LAST DETAINMENT IN 2006,
CITY OFFICIALS ENTERED HER HOME
AND CLEARED THE RESIDENCE OF ALL THE CLUTTER.
Joanne: THEY CLEANED OUT THE HOUSE,
THE GARAGE, THE SHED, THE PATIO, BASEMENT -- EVERYTHING.
AND THAT WAS DEVASTATING, OF COURSE.
Narrator: UPON HER RELEASE,
JOANNE WASTED NO TIME AMASSING A NEW HOARD.
TODAY, HER HOUSE IS AGAIN IN VIOLATION OF CITY CODE,
A DIRECT INFRINGEMENT OF HER PROBATION.
Joanne: IF I DON'T CLEAN NOW,
THE CITY IS GONNA COME AND TAKE ALL MY STUFF.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF I FAIL PROBATION.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT --
TO GO TO JAIL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Tad: WE LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, ABOUT A MILE FROM THE BEACH --
ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE BEACH AREAS
IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
WE LIVE IN A THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE,
AND WE HAVE FOUR CHILDREN,
AND WE KNEW THAT WE JUST NEEDED TO GET MORE SPACE.
MY WIFE AND I WERE ACTUALLY TARGETING
SPECIFIC PROPERTIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD WORK WELL FOR OUR FAMILY.
SO, WE IDENTIFIED BONNIE'S AS ONE OF THOSE,
AND WE WENT AND KNOCKED ON HER DOOR.
Narrator: REAL-ESTATE AGENT TAD AND HIS WIFE, AMBER,
FOUND THE PERFECT HOUSE AND A DEAL THEY COULDN'T REFUSE.
BUT THERE WAS JUST ONE CATCH.
THEY NEVER SAW THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
Amber: WE KNOW THE FLOOR PLAN.
IT'S A HUGE BACKYARD.
AND THEN IT'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET
FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FIGURED
IF WE CAN GET THE RIGHT PRICE FROM BONNIE,
THEN WE DON'T NEED TO SEE IT.
WHEN WE FIRST ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE HOUSE,
NO, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT BONNIE WAS A HOARDER.
Bonnie: MY NAME IS BONNIE,
AND I'M GETTING READY TO MOVE OUT OF MY CURRENT AREA
AND MOVE CLOSER TO MY GRANDCHILDREN.
I DESCRIBE MYSELF AS SOMEBODY WHO SAVES EVERYTHING.
I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A HOARDER.
HOARDING IS AN UNDESIRABLE TRAIT.
Narrator: BUT WHILE BONNIE REJECTS THE TERM "HOARDER,"
THE CLUTTER INSIDE HER 2,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUNGALOW
TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY.
I'VE LIVED HERE 32 YEARS.
IN THAT TIME, I HAVE ACCUMULATED A LOT OF STUFF.
THIS IS MY BEST FRIEND'S BOUQUET --
I WAS HER MAID OF HONOR -- FROM HER WEDDING.
NOW, NORMALLY YOU WOULDN'T KEEP A BOUQUET,
BUT THEY DID SILK FLOWERS INSTEAD OF REAL FLOWERS.
SO, I LOOK AT IT AND I SAY,
"I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T MIND IF I GOT RID OF IT,
BUT I JUST AM NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO GET RID OF IT YET."
Jon: MY MOTHER IS A HOARDER.
SHE IS DEFINITELY A HOARDER.
SHE BUYS THINGS. SHE COLLECTS THINGS.
THEY HAVE NO USE, AND SHE DOES NOT THROW THEM AWAY.
Bonnie: WELL, THIS IS A SOMBRERO.
IT WAS FROM A MEXICAN RESTAURANT
DURING ONE OF MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAYS.
MY MOM ATTACHES EMOTIONAL FEELINGS
TO MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT SHE HAS IN HER HOUSE,
AND I THINK IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR HER
TO LET THOSE THINGS GO --
THINGS LIKE OUR CHILDHOOD TOYS.
SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S LOSING US A LITTLE BIT MORE,
THAT WHEN SHE HAS THOSE THINGS AROUND,
SHE'S STILL ABLE TO KEEP US
AND KEEP OUR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES CLOSE TO HER.
Narrator: BUT FOR BONNIE,
THE GOOD MEMORIES ARE MIXED WITH PAINFUL ONES.
HER WORLD WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN SOME 30 YEARS AGO
WHEN HER HUSBAND DECIDED TO END THEIR MARRIAGE.
Bonnie: I THOUGHT WE HAD DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT.
HE SAW IT OTHERWISE.
AND TO HAVE THAT WHOLE -- I MEAN, TO HAVE THE DREAM END,
I THINK THAT'S WHEN THINGS STARTED TO --
KIND OF FALLING APART FOR ME.
Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF HEARTACHE,
BONNIE MUST NOW FACE HER COMPULSION
OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
WITH HER HOUSE ALREADY SOLD,
SHE HAS JUST 40 DAYS TO MOVE OUT OR TO RISK LOSING IT ALL.
Bonnie: WHEN I SOLD THE HOUSE,
I REALLY BELIEVED THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE,
DETERMINE WHAT THINGS I WANTED TO TAKE WITH ME
AND WHAT THINGS I NEEDED TO THROW AWAY.
IT PROBABLY WASN'T REALISTIC.
Tad: THE ORIGINAL ESCROW WAS 120 DAYS,
AND THEN SHE PUSHED US BACK TO 150 DAYS,
AND NOW WE'VE BEEN PUSHED BACK AGAIN TO 180 DAYS.
SHE HAS GOT HER LAST CHANCE.
THIS IS IT.
ON THAT 180th DAY, SHE HANDS US THE KEYS,
AND WHATEVER SHE HASN'T GOTTEN OUT OF THE HOUSE, SHE LEAVES,
AND WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER SHE HAS
AND WE'LL JUST GET RID OF IT ON OUR OWN.
[ SIGHS ]
GOT TO DRINK THIS UP REASONABLY FAST 'CAUSE --
"SELL BY NOVEMBER 30th."
MAKES ME SO MAD.
THEY WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO MARK THIS STUFF DOWN.
[ SIGHS ]
I DO EVERYTHING IN ONE SPOT.
IF IT'S NEXT TO THIS FROZEN BOX IN HERE, IT'LL STAY COLD.
I'LL EAT AND I'LL READ MY MAIL
AND MAYBE READ A BOOK A LITTLE BIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE CINCINNATI, OHIO,
COMPULSIVE HOARDER JOANNE HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
HER UNWILLINGNESS TO DISCARD THE CLUTTER IN HER HOME
HAS PUT HER AT RISK OF BEING IMPRISONED FOR A FIFTH TIME.
BUT FOR HER DAUGHTER, TERRI, THERE WERE HAPPIER TIMES
BEFORE JOANNE'S HOARDING SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.
I CAN REMEMBER SOMETIMES BACK IN MY EARLIER ADULTHOOD
AND MAYBE, LIKE, AROUND THE TEEN YEARS
WHERE, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN.
TOOK CARE OF HERSELF REALLY WELL.
MY MOM NOW IS UNRECOGNIZABLE.
SHE JUST WANTS TO BE LEFT ALONE IN HER HOUSE
AND BASICALLY JUST BE ABLE TO DIE THERE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY COULD BE THAT WAY,
BUT HERE WE ARE.
Narrator: JOANNE'S GRIM LIFE OF SOLITUDE
IS NOTHING NEW TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS,
WHO HAVE BEEN MONITORING HER WELFARE
AND HOUSING-CODE VIOLATIONS FOR DECADES.
ALL WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO GET HER TO MINIMUM COMPLIANCE
SO IT'S SAFE FOR HER AND FOR THE PUBLIC-SAFETY PEOPLE.
Narrator: TODAY, CAPTAIN STEVE COLDIRON
IS PAYING JOANNE A HOME VISIT
TO DETERMINE IF HER HOME MEETS HER PROBATIONARY TERMS.
HI, JOANNE.
OH, GOD.
THE EXECUTIONER.
[ CHUCKLES ] NO, JOANNE.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM EVERYBODY.
JOANNE.
NO, MA'AM.
I ACTUALLY MET JOANNE THE FIRST TIME ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
JOANNE, BY FAR,
IS THE HARDEST HOARDER THAT I'VE EVER DEALT WITH.
SHE CAN BE REALLY NICE,
AND THEN WHEN YOU START TALKING TO HER
ABOUT GETTING RID OF STUFF,
SHE CAN JUST FLIP A SWITCH
AND SHE CAN GET REALLY DEFENSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, JOANNE, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S ON PROBATION.
OKAY?
SO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE
WITH ALL THE FIRE, HEALTH, AND BUILDING CODES.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON INSIDE,
AND WE'LL GO AND LOOK, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE?
OH, GOD, THAT HOUSE IS SUCH A MESS.
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
JOANNE IS ON PROBATION.
BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I CAME IN HERE,
AND WE FILED CHARGES FOR BLOCKING MEANS OF EGRESS,
NOT HAVING A SMOKE ALARM UP, GENERAL FIRE SAFETY.
[ SIGHS ]
OKAY.
NOW, JOANNE, THIS IS -- THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES
THAT WE REALLY GOT TO GET CLEARED UP --
THIS MAIN HALLWAY HERE.
THAT'S -- THAT'S ONE OF YOUR MAIN PATHWAYS, WHETHER --
IF YOU'RE IN THE BATHROOM.
WHERE AM I GONNA PUT THESE CLOTHES?
WELL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE AT LEAST A 3-FOOT-WIDE PATH.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE
WHEN THE EMERGENCY HAPPENS.
LIKE, WHAT KIND OF EMERGENCY?
A FIRE.
OKAY.
WHAT IF I HAVE A HEART ATTACK AND DIE?
WELL, HOW ARE WE GONNA GET IN HERE TO GET YOU OUT?
YOU'LL HAVE TO SEND SOME MONKEYS IN HERE.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD?
JAIL.
YOU HAVE 180 DAYS, UP TO A $1,000 FINE.
THAT'S CRAZY. THAT IS CRAZY.
WELL, IT IS.
I-I'LL CRACK.
WELL, LET'S NOT GET TO THAT POINT.
LET'S GET INTO MINIMUM COMPLIANCE
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THE ROUTE --
OKAY. MINIMUM, MINIMUM.
YOU UNDERLINED THAT "MINIMUM."
AND THE MINIMUM IS YOUR 3-FOOT PATHWAYS.
BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE IN ONE DAY.
BUT I NEED TO SEE PROGRESS,
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN PROGRESS SINCE DAY 1 I'VE BEEN IN HERE.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
IT DOES NOBODY ANY GOOD TO THROW JOANNE IN JAIL OR TO FINE HER.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S HANGING OVER HER HEAD.
Narrator: BACK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA,
COMPULSIVE HOARDER BONNIE
IS FACING A VERY SERIOUS DEADLINE, AS WELL.
SHE RECENTLY SOLD HER HOME
AND WAS GIVEN MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS
TO CLEAR OUT HER BELONGINGS.
IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER THE SALE OF THE HOME
THAT THE BUYER EVEN SAW THE INTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Tad: SHE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO US
THAT SHE NEEDED THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET MOVED OUT,
AND SO WE WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PROCESS
AND LET HER HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
Narrator: NOW WITH JUST 40 DAYS LEFT BEFORE CLOSING,
BUYERS TAD AND AMBER, ALONG WITH THEIR CONTRACTOR, DAN,
ARRIVE TODAY TO ASSESS POTENTIAL REPAIRS
AND ENSURE THAT BONNIE IS STAYING ON SCHEDULE.
COME ON IN.
OH.
Dan: AFTER YOU.
OH, THANK YOU.
YEAH.
WOW.
WHERE DO YOU GUYS WANT TO START?
LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT SOME -- HEY, BONNIE.
Bonnie: I'M GOOD.
GOOD. NICE TO SEE YOU.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING US COME BY TODAY.
SURE, SURE.
I THINK I'M GONNA HEAD OUT
AND GIVE YOU GUYS ROOM TO LOOK AROUND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
Amber: WHEN I FIRST WALKED INTO THE HOUSE, I THOUGHT,
"WOW, THERE'S BEEN NOTHING DONE IN THE LAST 150 DAYS."
I MEAN, SHE'S HAD SO MUCH TIME,
AND IT'S OVERWHELMING HOW MUCH STUFF IS IN THE HOUSE.
FULL.
AND SHE SAYS SHE JUST NEEDS TO PACK UP HER STUFF,
AND HERE WE ARE, LIKE, TWO WEEKS FROM CLOSING ESCROW,
AND THERE IS NOT...
ONE BOX.
WELL, THERE ARE SOME BOXES, BUT THEY'RE EMPTY.
THERE ARE SOME BOXES,
BUT THEY JUST DON'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S ANYTHING IN THEM.
BONNIE TOLD TAD AND I THAT SHE WAS GOING TO EMPTY THE HOUSE.
AND THEN WHEN WE WALK INTO THE HOUSE,
WE REALIZE THAT WHAT SHE HAS TOLD US IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Narrator: BUT BONNIE'S IMMENSE HOARD
IS NOW ONLY PART OF TAD AND AMBER'S CONCERN.
AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY DEEPER INTO THE HOME,
LARGER STRUCTURAL ISSUES BECOME APPARENT.
Tad: SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
DAN, I MEAN, I SEE, LIKE, A SAGGING RIGHT THERE.
I MEAN, WHAT IS -- TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT.
WELL, THERE'S OBVIOUS WATER DAMAGE IN THIS WALL,
SO WE'D BE OPENING THAT UP AND CHECKING THE OUTSIDE
FOR WHERE THE WATER'S COMING IN.
Amber: SO, BASICALLY ALL DRYWALL HAS TO BE REMOVED.
I WOULD STRIP THE DRYWALL,
JUST FOR MOLD AND WHATEVER ELSE WHAT MIGHT BE INSIDE THE WALLS.
EACH ROOM THAT WE WENT INTO,
THE CONTRACTOR JUST CONTINUED TO MAKE
A MORE BLEAK AND MORE BLEAK PICTURE
OF ALL THE WORK THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO
IN ORDER TO GET THIS HOUSE TO WHERE WE COULD LIVE IN IT.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING RE-DRYWALL EVERYTHING,
RE-ROOF, RE-WINDOW, REDO EVERY BATHROOM,
REDO THE KITCHEN, WHAT ARE WE LEAVING?
YOU'RE BASICALLY LEAVING THE BONES OF THE HOUSE,
THE SKELETON.
AND HOW MUCH IS A WHOLE, BRAND-NEW HOUSE?
WELL, DEPENDS ON HOW FAR YOU TAKE IT.
I MEAN, IT COULD BE $180,000 TO $200,000 WORTH OF REDOING.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
I MEAN, I FELT PRETTY, LIKE, OVERLOADED JUST SEEING THAT.
I MEAN, WE LIVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN BONNIE DOES.
THIS IS, LIKE, WAY MORE THAN WE BARGAINED FOR.
Joanne: I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO COME AND TAKE MY STUFF,
BECAUSE I CONSIDER THAT A CRIME FOR THEM TO TAKE MY STUFF.
IT'S A CRIME. I CALL IT A CRIME.
AND THEY SAY, "OH, IT'S THIS, THAT,
FIRE HAZARD, HEALTH HAZARD," ALL THIS CRAP.
Narrator: THE CITY'S ULTIMATUM FOR JOANNE
COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR --
BRING THE HOUSE TO MINIMUM CODE STANDARDS
OR FACE 180 DAYS IN JAIL.
WITH A FULL-SCALE CLEANOUT SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW,
JOANNE HAS AGREED
TO WORK WITH PSYCHOTHERAPIST DR. CHRISTINA NOBLE.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Joanne: COME IN.
HI, JOANNE.
HI. I'M CHRISTINA NOBLE,
AND I'M THE THERAPIST WHO'S GONNA BE WORKING WITH YOU.
MM-HMM.
SO...
SHE WAS LAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PILE
OF DISCARDED BOOKS, OF MAGAZINES, OF NEWSPAPERS,
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THESE THINGS HAD TAKEN OVER HER LIFE.
JOANNE, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU DO IN THIS ROOM?
WATCH TELEVISION AND EAT AND SOMETIMES READ MY MAIL.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, I JUST END UP FALLING ASLEEP.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPACES IN THE HOUSE
THAT YOU DO USE AT THIS TIME?
OKAY.
SO, WOULD IT FEEL OKAY FOR YOU
FOR ME TO GO THROUGH AND JUST...
YES, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU WALKING AND STEPPING ALL OVER MY STUFF.
OKAY. SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME WITH ME?
[ SIGHS ] I GUESS.
OKAY.
I WAS CONCERNED WITH JOANNE'S PHYSICAL CONDITION.
HER MOBILITY WAS OBVIOUSLY TAKING A HIT
FROM THIS HOARDING BEHAVIOR.
SHE HAD SIGNIFICANT ARTHRITIS.
SHE ALSO HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT RESPIRATORY ISSUES.
OKAY.
HER KITCHEN WAS COMPLETELY NONFUNCTIONAL.
A LOT OF HER APPLIANCES DIDN'T WORK,
SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE WERE MANY THINGS
THAT WERE IMPEDING HER ABILITY TO LIVE.
SO, IN THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS, LIKE THIS EMPTY BOX,
WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OKAY TO BE TAKE AWAY?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S GARBAGE.
BUT, ALSO, ALSO, I COULD FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO PUT IN HERE.
OH.
THE DIFFICULTY FOR HOARDERS
IS THAT THEY SEE VALUE IN ALL OF THEIR ITEMS,
SO EVERYTHING IS SPECIAL, EVERYTHING IS NOTABLE,
EVERYTHING IS WORTHWHILE AND KEEPABLE.
SO, I'M LOOKING AT THIS.
THIS IS -- THIS IS A CREAM GRAVY,
AND THE EXPIRATION DATE ON IT IS MARCH, 2006.
OKAY.
HMM!
SIX.
ALL RIGHT. SO, THAT'S SIX YEARS PAST THE EXPIRATION DATE.
OKAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OTHER PEOPLE WOULD SAY TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE?
"GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT, GET RID OF IT."
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT CAN?
OKAY. IF I OPEN IT UP AND TAKE A LITTLE TASTE OF IT
AND IT DON'T TASTE RIGHT, THEN I'LL GET RID OF IT.
AND I'LL SPIT IT OUT, TOO.
SO, I'M HAVING SOME CONCERN FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF JOANNE'S PRESENTING ISSUES,
MY CONCERN WAS THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA GET ANYTHING DONE.
Dan: LOOK HERE.
COME IN HERE. YOU GOT TO SEE THIS.
Narrator: BACK OUT WEST, DURING THEIR FIRST FULL WALK-THROUGH,
NEW-HOME BUYERS TAD AND AMBER WERE HIT WITH A STARK REALITY.
THE HOUSE HAS SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
DUE TO THE CURRENT OCCUPANT'S EXTREME HOARDING.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
SHE HAS PROVEN TO BE UNWILLING TO PACK HER BELONGINGS
FOR THE MOVE JUST 40 DAYS AWAY.
WE NEEDED TO TALK TO BONNIE
AND LET HER KNOW THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THIS PROCESS.
WE NEED HER TO BE SERIOUS BECAUSE THIS IS IT.
SHE'S GOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME
AND THEN SHE'S GIVING US THE KEYS.
THIS IS WHERE IT GETS REAL.
ALL RIGHT, BONNIE.
Bonnie: MM-HMM?
A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
SO, I JUST SEE THAT
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THERE IS.
THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER FINALLY HITS THE ROAD.
AND HONEST TO GOODNESS, IN 40 DAYS,
COME HECK OR HIGH WATER,
YOU'LL BE DRIVING AWAY, AND WE'LL BE TAKING OWNERSHIP.
AND WHATEVER'S LEFT INTO YOUR HOUSE,
WE WILL BE TAKING AND THROWING IT IN THE DUMPSTER.
I KNOW I'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
YEAH. LONG, LONG WAY.
BUT I HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA HELP ME,
AND I'M TRULY COMMITTED TO BEING OUT IN THE 40-DAY PERIOD.
HIS AGENDA IS TO GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE HOUSE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
SO HE CAN GET IN, AND HE'S IN IT FOR TAD.
BUT IT'S STILL MY HOUSE AT THIS POINT.
IT'S STILL MY STUFF.
Narrator: WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,
BONNIE MUST TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES
TO GET THIS HOME CLEARED IN TIME FOR CLOSING.
AFTER REVIEWING HER CASE,
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST DR. BECKY BEATON
HAS AGREED TO PAY BONNIE A VISIT
TO HELP HER TRY TO MEET HER GOAL.
YEAH.
WELL, SHOULD WE TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO MAYBE SIT DOWN AND TALK FOR A LITTLE WHILE?
SURE, SURE. LET'S GO IN HERE.
Dr. Beaton: WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN THE DOOR,
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FAIRLY STRONG PET ODOR
AND A LOT OF EMPTY BOXES.
DIDN'T LOOK THAT ORGANIZED, REALLY.
I THOUGHT THE ONLY PREPARATION
THAT BONNIE HAS MADE FOR THE MOVE IS TO COLLECT BOXES,
WHICH SORT OF FITS WITH THE HOARDING.
SHE FOUND SOMETHING ELSE TO COLLECT.
SO, BONNIE, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW ALL OF THIS STARTED.
IT PROBABLY STARTED WHEN I GOT DIVORCED.
MY EX LEFT THREE MONTHS AFTER WE MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE.
WOW.
SO, THAT KIND OF SET EVERYTHING IN TURMOIL.
THERE WERE THINGS I HADN'T EVEN COMPLETELY UNPACKED
THAT WERE IN THE GARAGE, SO ALL OF THAT FROZE.
SO, IS IT STILL PACKED IN THE GARAGE?
WOW.
32 YEARS LATER.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING IS OVER 30.
MM-HMM.
TO KNOW THAT I HAD LOST WHO I THOUGHT WAS MY LIFE PARTNER,
IT WAS SAD,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY TO DO ANYTHING ELSE
EXCEPT KIND OF NUMBLY WALK THROUGH THE DAY, TO BE HONEST.
AND HE LEFT, SO I TAKE IT THAT HE WANTED THE DIVORCE?
OKAY.
HE -- IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
"I LOVE YOU, BUT I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU ANYMORE."
OH, THAT'S SO PAINFUL.
I SOMETIMES WONDER, YOU KNOW,
IF IT'S REALLY TRUE YOU GET ONE -- ONE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE.
HE MAY BE IT, AND THERE MAY BE NOTHING MORE FOR ME.
Dr. Beaton: BONNIE FEELS LIKE HER DIVORCE
WAS THE CATALYST FOR HER HOARDING,
THAT THAT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME FOR HER.
SHE SAID SHE STOPPED TRUSTING PEOPLE,
AND THINGS WERE SAFER.
THINGS FILLED THE VOID.
SO, BONNIE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS KIND OF GET A GAUGE
ON HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE
HAVING FIVE MINUTES TO CHOOSE
THE ITEMS THAT ARE MOST PRECIOUS TO YOU IN THIS ENTIRE HOME.
SO, TAD IS ON HIS WAY.
HE'S GONNA MOVE IN.
YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES STARTING NOW.
LET'S GO.
WELL, FIRST THING THAT'S GONNA GO IS MY PHONE AND MY LAPTOP.
LAPTOP. THAT'S GOOD. THAT SEEMS IMPORTANT.
30 SECONDS HAS ALREADY GONE, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
YOU GOT FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.
TAD IS ON HIS WAY.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GONNA GET
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CLOSET IN FIVE MINUTES.
WHAT'S IN THE CLOSET?
BABY PICTURES.
OKAY. SO, YOU'RE AFTER THE BABY PICTURES.
I'M GETTING MORE ANXIOUS AS WE GO
JUST BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I'M LOSING MORE AND MORE CONTROL.
SEE, THIS ISN'T WORKING FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL LIFE.
UM...
I HATED THAT EXERCISE THAT I DID WITH DR. BECKY.
IT WAS JUST AN EXERCISE. IT WASN'T REAL.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU?
WELL, OF COURSE, THERE ARE THINGS,
BUT NOT THAT I CAN GET TO.
IF YOU IMAGINE YOU HAD FIVE MINUTES...
YEAH.
BONNIE'S NOT FEELING THE ANXIETY NECESSARY
TO GET THIS HOARD MOVING OUT THE DOOR.
SHE SEEMS PRETTY COMPLACENT,
AND I'M AFRAID SHE'S NOT GONNA GET EVERYTHING OUT IN TIME.
Joanne: O-OKAY.
IF I OPEN IT UP AND TAKE A LITTLE TASTE OF IT
AND IT DON'T TASTE RIGHT, THEN I'LL GET RID OF IT.
AND I'LL SPIT IT OUT, TOO.
Narrator: BACK IN THE MIDWEST,
COMPULSIVE HOARDER JOANNE'S AVERSION
TO LETTING THINGS GO TO WASTE
HAS LED HER TO TAKE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HEALTH RISKS.
SO, THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR US TO GO INTO THE LIVING ROOM,
AND I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF I COULD TAKE THAT FROM YOU.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO TASTE IT,
BUT I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR YOUR WELL-BEING.
NO, I'M NOT GONNA GET SICK.
IF IT TASTES BAD, I'LL SPIT IT OUT.
SO, WE WENT BACK TO THE FAMILY ROOM
BECAUSE I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH HER
IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SHE FELT SAFE
TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD SEEN IN THE HOUSE.
JOANNE, WHY DO YOU HOARD?
DOES A PERSON REALLY KNOW?
I FEEL LIKE IT'S MY RIGHT.
OKAY.
IF I SEE A YARD SALE IN THERE
THAT HAS A BUNCH OF STUFF FOR SALE,
I'M GONNA WANT TO GO.
I FEEL LIKE I'LL MISS OUT.
IF I DON'T GO, I'LL MISS OUT ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT MAYBE.
MM-HMM.
BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS,
WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING DOES SOUND LIKE AN ADDICTION.
OKAY. YEAH. IT MIGHT BE.
I THINK WHAT'S DIFFICULT HERE IS THAT THIS SITUATION NOW
IS HURTING YOU MORE THAN IT'S HELPING YOU.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
NO, I CAN'T SAY IT'S HURTING ME MORE.
WOULD IT HURT YOU IF YOU WERE HOMELESS?
RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.
OH, THAT WOULD REALLY CAUSE ME ANGER.
RIGHT.
THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SOME CHOICES THAT ARE MADE
OR ELSE THE CITY IS GOING TO COME IN, RIGHT?
I'LL GET IT PUT IN STORAGE OR SOMETHING.
OKAY.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ATTACHMENTS TO THINGS,
SO I'M WONDERING HOW YOU WOULD FEEL
IF I TOOK THIS WITH ME OVERNIGHT AND BROUGHT IT BACK TOMORROW.
NO!
OKAY.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
THAT SEAL'S NOT HURTING ANYTHING HERE.
I'LL JUST PUT HIM BACK.
I'LL FIND SOME MORE THINGS TO GET RID OF ON THAT SHELF,
OKAY.
THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE HER BUILD UP HER TOLERANCE
OF LETTING SOMETHING GO JUST FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME,
KNOWING THAT IT WOULD COME BACK,
AS A PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT DAY AND THE HAUL-AWAY.
I KNOW -- I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO.
WHAT AM I UP TO?
YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU TAKING IT.
MM-HMM.
AND I WANT YOU TO START BUILDING UP A LITTLE BIT OF COMFORT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF THINGS I WANT TO KEEP.
I MEAN, THAT'S STUPID.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET RID OF HIM.
WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF THE SEAL.
YEAH, BUT YOU'RE WORKING UP TO IT.
I MIGHT BE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO TRUST PEOPLE
AND CONNECT TO PEOPLE INSTEAD OF JUST CONNECTING TO THINGS.
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
I THINK WHEN WE TRY AND CLEAN,
JOANNE IS GONNA HAVE A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME WITH IT.
AT THIS POINT, I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CITY PROBABLY
IS GONNA HAVE TO GET INVOLVED,
AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER WELL-BEING IF THAT DOES HAPPEN.
Narrator: IN JUST 40 DAYS,
BONNIE WILL BE FORCED TO HAND OVER THE KEYS TO HER HOME
AND MOVE WITH OR WITHOUT
THE ITEMS SHE'S BEEN COLLECTING FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES.
BONNIE'S IN NEED OF SERIOUS HELP WITH THIS HOARD RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE SHE SOLD HER HOME
AND SHE HAS TO BE OUT OF HER HOUSE IN LESS THAN A MONTH.
Narrator: DESPERATE TO SAVE HER BELONGINGS,
BONNIE'S AGREED TO A MAJOR CLEANUP
THAT WILL INCLUDE HELP FROM HER TWO CHILDREN,
AS WELL AS THE HOME BUYERS, TAD AND AMBER.
WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY TO HELP BONNIE.
SHE IS THE HOMEOWNER,
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE FUTURE HOMEOWNERS,
AND WE WANT TO GET THIS PLACE IN TOP SHAPE
AND GET AS MUCH STUFF OUT AS WE CAN THAT'S DONATABLE
OR STUFF THAT HAS TO BE TRASHED OR RECYCLED.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M DR. BECKY. I'M A PSYCHOLOGIST.
SO IF YOU SEE ANYBODY GETTING EMOTIONAL ABOUT ANYTHING
OR NEEDING ME IN ANY WAY, PLEASE COME FIND ME.
Getzkin: WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE GUYS TAKE THAT.
THE OFFICE CHAIR?
IT CAN GO? OKAY.
THEN THERE'S SOME KIND OF EQUIPMENT
OR SOMETHING RIGHT HERE,
AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IT IS.
THE PIPES?
OKAY.
OKAY, IS THIS SOMETHING --
OKAY.
SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DONATE THOSE.
THAT'S A DONATE.
Tad: WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE,
AND, OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S GIVEN US, YOU KNOW, INSTRUCTIONS --
"TAKE THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE" -- AND THAT'S MY OBJECTIVE.
LET'S GET IT OUT.
THE FASTER WE GET IT OUT, THE BETTER OFF WE ALL ARE,
SO THAT'S MY -- THAT'S MY GOAL.
Narrator: LESS THAN AN HOUR INTO THE CLEANOUT,
THERE IS ALREADY SIGNS OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS,
AND BONNIE IS SURPRISING EVERYONE
WITH HER WILLINGNESS TO DISCARD THE CLUTTER.
VERY PROUD OF YOU.
Dr. Beaton: BONNIE'S DOING REALLY WELL.
IT'S GREAT.
WE'RE MOVING AND PICKING UP SPEED.
WE'RE MOVING.
WE'RE GETTING IT MOVED OUT.
Narrator: BUT PROGRESS SLOWS
WHEN BONNIE SUDDENLY LOSES MOMENTUM.
I MEAN, THIS AREA, I STILL NEED TO LOOK AT.
BUT THEN THE REST OF THE STUFF, I NEED TO KIND OF GO THROUGH
AND SAY WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I DON'T WANT.
OH, THESE CANNOT GO.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THERE ARE GONNA BE PLATES REPACKED INTO THEM.
THE WORST MOMENT WAS WHEN THINGS STARTED SLOWING DOWN,
AND I FELT LIKE, "OH, NO."
Man: BONNIE, DO YOU WANT TO KEEP THE DOG BED?
Bonnie: YES, I DO.
Dr. Beaton: THERE IS SO MUCH LEFT TO DO,
AND I DON'T THINK SHE HAS A VERY GOOD CONCEPT OF TIME.
Bonnie: THIS ALL GOES INTO THE HOUSE.
YOU GOT A BUNCH OF TAPES.
YEAH. IN THE HOUSE.
OH, IN THE HOUSE? IN THE HOUSE.
SHE IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
Bonnie: HUH?
DONATE?
THERE'S NO WAY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.
WE'RE ALL HERE FOR JOANNE TODAY ON THIS RAINY, RAINY DAY.
AND BECAUSE IT'S RAINING,
WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE PLAN A LITTLE BIT.
EMPTY THE TUBS AND BINS...
Narrator: 2,000 MILES AWAY,
JOANNE'S FAMILY AND A TEAM OF HAULERS,
LED BY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER BIRDIE BRENNAN,
ARE ON SITE TO HELP BRING HER HOUSE UP TO CITY CODE STANDARDS.
SO, EVERYBODY, LET'S GIVE JOANNE A HAND, OKAY?
YAY!
ALL RIGHT. SO, LET'S GO, EVERYBODY.
WELL, WHAT AM I GONNA PUT THE STUFF IN I WANT TO KEEP?
YOU'RE GONNA POINT TO STUFF, AND THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT
AND THEY'RE GONNA PUT IT ON A TARP IN HERE
AND PUT IT IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER AND THEN COVER IT.
THAT IS STRESSFUL, TRYING TO CLEAN OUT YOUR HOUSE
AND GO THROUGH YOUR STUFF.
THAT IS STRESSFUL.
OF COURSE I WAS NERVOUS AND PISSED.
I WAS WONDERING HOW THEY WERE GONNA DO IT.
GOOD.
JOANNE, REMEMBER WE TALKED YESTERDAY ABOUT HOW CANS,
THE METAL LEECHES INTO THE FOOD AFTER A LITTLE WHILE?
SO, ANYTHING THAT'S EARLIER THAN 2010,
CAN WE THROW THAT AWAY?
'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA BE HEALTHY FOR ANYBODY TO EAT IT.
OKAY?
SO, 2010 OR EARLIER CANNED GOODS CAN GO AWAY.
Man #2: OH!
OOH!
I DON'T NEED THAT.
OKAY. THROW THAT AWAY?
Narrator: BUT WHILE THE TEAM INSIDE
IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS CLEARING THE HOARD,
OUTSIDE, JOANNE IS MOVING AT AN EXCRUCIATINGLY SLOW PACE.
Joanne: DOES THAT -- WHERE DOES THAT GO?
Brennan: LOOKS LIKE A CIGARETTE LIGHTER MAYBE.
YEAH, I COULD USE IT IN MY CAR.
OKAY. YOU'RE GONNA PUT THAT IN YOUR POCKET?
ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT IT?
"TORTURING THE SOUL AND WRINGING THE NERVES."
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENING TO ME.
OKAY.
JOANNE'S HAVING A REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TIME.
SHE'S GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING --
EVERY PIECE OF PAPER, EVERY PIECE OF LINT,
EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC.
EVERYTHING, SHE'S GOING THROUGH AND SHE'S TOUCHING IT.
SHE HAS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
Narrator: AS JOANNE SCRUTINIZES EACH AND EVERY ITEM,
HER DAUGHTER, TERRI,
STRUGGLES TO MAKE ANY VISIBLE PROGRESS INSIDE THE HOME.
I'VE BARELY BEEN WORKING FOR TWO HOURS
AND MADE A LITTLE PATHWAY.
OH, WELL.
I'M TRYING TO STAY AWAY BECAUSE IF SHE SEES ME,
SHE'S GONNA FREAK OUT MORE
'CAUSE SHE THINKS I'M THROWING HER STUFF AWAY, WHICH I AM,
BUT SHE CAN'T SEE ME.
WHAT DID HE THROW IN HERE?
I SEE SOMETHING. I SEE SOMETHING I WANT.
AND YOU'RE THROWING AWAY HEATERS AND FANS AND MY BAGS?
SOME OF MY BAGS GOT THINGS --
IMPORTANT PAPERS AND THINGS IN THEM.
ONE MINUTE WE WERE WORKING WITH HER, AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE,
SHE WAS IN THE DUMPSTER,
PICKING THROUGH THINGS THAT WE HAD ALREADY DISCARDED.
I MEAN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
I SEE A LOT OF THINGS IN HERE THAT SHOULDN'T BE THROWN OUT.
THEY WERE VIOLATING ME, VIOLATING MY RIGHTS,
STEPPING ALL OVER ME,
GOING AGAINST MY WILL, JUST TAKING MY STUFF.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT DATES ON ALL THAT FOOD.
THAT FOOD'S NOT ALL BAD.
Dr. Noble: THERE'S A BUNCH OF CLOTHES IN THE DRIVEWAY RIGHT NOW.
I'M SO ANGRY.
I AM SO ANGRY, I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT!
I CAN'T GO THROUGH THIS.
I DON'T WANT ALL THIS STUFF THROWN OUT.
JOANNE WAS SO FRANTIC.
SHE WAS GETTING VERY UPSET.
I HAD ALL KINDS OF STUFF OVER HERE AND STUFF OVER THERE.
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE STAKES VERY CLEAR TO JOANNE,
THAT THE CITY WAS GONNA BE THERE TO CLEAN OUT HER HOUSE.
SHE BECAME VERY REACTIVE. SHE WAS VERY ANGRY.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
IT'S MY STUFF! THEY'RE VIOLATING ME.
AND WE DECIDED TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS A CRIME.
Joanne: THEY TOOK ALL MY STUFF.
I HAD ALL KINDS OF STUFF OVER HERE AND STUFF OVER THERE.
Narrator: WHEN A MASSIVE CLEANOUT BECAME TOO MUCH
FOR COMPULSIVE HOARDER JOANNE TO HANDLE,
PSYCHOTHERAPIST DR. CHRISTINA NOBLE
CHOSE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE OPERATION.
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,
JOANNE HAS WORKED AT HER OWN PACE,
TRYING TO CLEAR ENOUGH CLUTTER
IN ORDER TO BRING HER HOUSE UP TO CODE.
TODAY, SHE AND HER FAMILY AWAIT A FINAL VISIT
FROM CODE ENFORCER CAPTAIN STEVE COLDIRON,
WHO WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE HOUSE IS NOW LIVABLE.
OH, CAPTAIN COLDIRON'S COMING OVER
TO SEE IF EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT HE WANTS FIXED UP,
THAT THEY COULD BE FIXED UP, I GUESS.
HI, JOANNE, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
OH, I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS I'M ST-- I'M SURVIVING, I GUESS.
SURVIVING? BUT WE'RE COMING TO SEE
ALL THE GOOD PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN MAKING.
YEAH, YEAH.
I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE'VE REDUCED THE FIRE LOAD
AND THAT WE'VE CLEARED SOME EGRESS PATHS
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IN AN EMERGENCY, IN A PANIC SITUATION,
SOMEBODY CAN GET OUT.
SO, JOANNE, I'VE BEEN REALLY PLEASED,
WHAT I'VE SEEN OUTSIDE AND IN THE BACK PORCH HERE.
WELL, I'M REALLY GLAD.
AND THE KITCHEN HERE IS LOOKING GREAT.
I COULD ACTUALLY WALK OVER TO YOUR SINK
AND YOUR STOVE AND GET AROUND.
YEAH.
IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND EVERYTHING.
AND I CAN OPEN MY REFRIGERATOR DOOR.
YEAH.
LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT EVERYTHING ORGANIZED IN HERE.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY START USING THIS ROOM.
BEFORE, YOU COULDN'T.
WOW.
ANOTHER BEDROOM THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE, JOANNE.
I HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO IN THOSE BEDROOMS,
AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE MUCH HOPE THAT WE WOULD GET THAT FAR.
NOW SHE CAN ACTUALLY GET IN THERE.
SHE HAS HER CLOTHES, HER SHOES, ORGANIZED.
SHE CAN GO IN AND USE THOSE SPACES,
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS,
MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE CAN GET OUT.
JOANNE, LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE A LOT OF WORK IN HERE.
THIS IS GREAT.
KEY IS YOU'RE GONNA KEEP IT THIS WAY, RIGHT?
OKAY.
THIS IS A VERY HAPPY ENDING FOR JOANNE.
WE DO HAVE ONE LAST THING TO TAKE CARE OF,
ONE LITTLE PRESENT.
I PROMISED THAT WE WERE GONNA PUT UP A SMOKE ALARM
NOW THAT I CAN ACTUALLY PUT A LADDER UP
THAT'S GREAT.
I DIDN'T THINK SHE WOULD GET THROUGH IT, BUT, YOU KNOW,
SHE DID MUSCLE THROUGH IT, SO I WAS PROUD OF HER.
I THINK SHE DID A GOOD JOB.
ALL RIGHT. THERE WE ARE.
YAY!
WAY TO GO! NICE JOB.
GOOD JOB, JOANNE.
YES.
Narrator: ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
COMPULSIVE HOARDER BONNIE HAS SINCE TURNED OVER HER KEYS
TO THE NEW HOMEOWNERS, TAD AND AMBER.
Tad: ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S GO SEE THE HOUSE.
UNFORTUNATELY, VERY LITTLE REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE.
HOLD MY HAND. THIS WAY, BUBBA.
Tad: WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST CHANGE A FEW WALLS,
LEAVE A LOT OF THE ORIGINAL FRAMING THAT WAS HERE,
JUST KIND OF REMOVE SOME OF THE VISIBLE ROT AND SO ON.
BUT AS WE GOT INTO IT,
IT WAS ACTUALLY A LOT WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT,
AND SO WE'VE ACTUALLY,
FOR THE MOST PART, BUILT AN ENTIRELY NEW HOUSE.
Narrator: AFTER STARTING A NEW LIFE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA,
BONNIE HAS RETURNED TO SEE WHAT REMAINS
OF THE PLACE SHE CALLED HOME FOR OVER 32 YEARS.
I DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND WHEN I MOVED.
I WAS ABLE TO EMPTY OUT THE HOUSE.
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT WHAT I DONATED,
WHAT I TRASHED, AND WHAT I KEPT.
WOW.
WELL, THIS IS MY OLD HOUSE, AND IT'S CHANGED A LOT.
Amber: IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YEAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
IT'S CHANGED QUITE A BIT.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SAME HOUSE.
YEP.
Bonnie: I MOVED SEVEN HOURS NORTH,
NEAR WHERE MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW
AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS LIVE,
INTO A CUTE, LITTLE HOUSE,
AND I'M VERY HAPPY.
SO, THEN, OF COURSE,
THIS IS WHERE YOUR FAMILY ROOM USED TO BE,
BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE SIZE.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY'D BE QUITE AS FAR ALONG
AS THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS.
IT DEFINITELY NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE MY HOUSE.
WE JUST FEEL SO, SO LUCKY
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR -- YOUR OLD PROPERTY.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU HAVE IT.
IT ENABLED ME TO MOVE TOWARDS MY GOALS.
WHAT I'VE REALLY LEARNED IS THAT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO ME
TO HAVE A HOUSE THAT'S CLEAN AND CLUTTER-FREE
SO THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTERS AND OTHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY
CAN COME AND VISIT ME.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING MY STUFF AROUND.