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OH, MY GOD.
Lalie: WHEN WE COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR,
YOU COULD JUST SMELL IT.
WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR NOSE, IT'S SO BAD.
THERE'S PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND
EMPTY POP BOTTLES IN HERE.
I JUST COLLECTED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING TRASH.
IS THIS WORSE THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS?
DENISE, THIS IS FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN I THOUGHT!
FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT.
THE PLACE IS A NIGHTMARE FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S HAD SURGERY.
THE BATHROOM ITSELF IS COMPLETELY NOT FUNCTIONAL.
Denise: THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY.
WHEN YOU LIVE WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THIS
AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IT,
I MEAN [SNIFFLES] THEY MAKE YOU LOOK BAD.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
COME ON, YOU GUYS. GOOD BOY, CODY.
MY NAME IS DENISE, AND I LIVE IN CHICAGO.
I'M A NATIVE CHICAGOAN.
I HAVE TWO DOGS AND A CAT,
SO THAT MAKES MY HAPPY HOME.
YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IN A MILLION YEARS
WHAT WAS BEHIND MY DOOR,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE HAIR, THE MAKEUP,
THE CLOTHES, EVERYTHING IS PICTURE PERFECT.
YOU GOOD GIRL.
IT'S LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE.
[ Voice breaking ] YOU KNOW.
Narrator: DENISE LIVES ON THE SECOND FLOOR
OF THIS TWO-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING
THAT SHE PURCHASED IN 1998.
SINCE THEN, SHE'S GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO KEEP HER PROBLEM A SECRET FROM EVERYONE.
I AM A HOARDER,
AND I REALIZE I'VE BEEN A HOARDER
PROBABLY MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE.
I HAVE 10-FOOT CEILINGS,
AND I'M PROBABLY UP TO 8 FEET RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS MY LIVING ROOM HERE.
THIS ROOM BECAME MY JUNK ROOM.
I JUST STARTED TOSSING THINGS IN HERE SINCE I NEVER USE IT.
I HAVE A COUCH, I HAVE A LOVE SEAT, A DESK,
COUPLE OF TABLES,
OLD COMPUTERS IN HERE, BOXES.
I THINK I HOARD BECAUSE I HAVE THIS INNATE SENSE
OF HAVING TO HAVE THINGS.
JUST THINGS, THINGS, THINGS.
I HAVE THIS REALLY CUTE LITTLE LION.
HE STILL HAS HIS TAG ON HIM.
PICKED IT UP AT A LOCAL SHOP.
SPENT A WHOPPING $6 ON IT, ACCORDING TO THE PRICE TAG.
AND SINCE I'M A LEO, I LOVE LIONS.
WHEN I WENT IN, IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, I WAS SPEECHLESS.
JUST UNIMAGINABLE STUFF FOR ME
AND PILES OF CLOTHES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE GETS DRESSED IN THE MORNING.
THE COMPUTER LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
ON A CRIME SCENE WITH, LIKE, BARELY LEGIBLE KEYS.
BUT WHAT I CAN'T GET IS THE FACT THAT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CLEAN,
SHE'LL JUST PUT ANOTHER BLANKET ON TOP OF THE DIRT.
I AM STANDING ON ABOUT -- AT THIS POINT --
ABOUT THREE FEET OF TRASH,
NEWS STUFF BURIED UNDERNEATH THE TRASH.
THERE'S PROBABLY A COUPLE THOUSAND
EMPTY POP BOTTLES IN HERE.
I WAS HOPING TO MAYBE FIND A WAY TO RECYCLE THEM,
BURN THEM, MAKE SOMETHING, BUT COULDN'T COME UP WITH THAT.
MAYBE MAKE FURNITURE OUT OF THEM.
GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I JUST DIDN'T CARE.
YOU KNOW, I JUST COLLECTED EVERYTHING,
INCLUDING TRASH.
Narrator: YEARS OF ACCUMULATED TRASH AND COLLECTIBLES
HAS LEFT THE CONDITIONS OF HER APARTMENT IN A DIRE STATE.
THIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH HER CURRENT HEALTH COMPLICATIONS,
MAKES DENISE'S SITUATION ALL THE MORE PERILOUS.
MY BABY GIRL.
I'VE BEEN BATTLING CANCER SINCE 1987,
SO I'M STILL HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I'VE HAD THREE SURGERIES TO REMOVE CYSTS
FROM MY RIGHT BREAST,
AND MOST RECENTLY, I HAD PART OF MY PANCREAS
AND MY SPLEEN REMOVED.
Jeanne: GIVEN HOW BAD THAT HOUSE IS
BETWEEN THE MOLD,
THE URINE SMELL, THE FLEAS,
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE IS NOT MORE SICK THAN SHE ALREADY IS.
Narrator: BUT WHILE DENISE MAY LIVE ALONE,
THE FALLOUT FROM HER HOARDING
IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT THOSE OUTSIDE HER APARTMENT.
LALIE AND HER TWO DAUGHTERS ARE DENISE'S DOWNSTAIRS TENANTS
WHO HAVE BEEN RENTING FROM HER FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS.
Lalie: WHEN WE COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR,
YOU COULD JUST SMELL IT.
WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR NOSE, IT'S SO BAD.
Denise: LALIE DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT MY HOARDING.
SHE MAY HAVE AN IDEA THAT I LIKE TO COLLECT JUNK,
BUT I DON'T THINK SHE REALIZES HOW BAD IT IS.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH LALIE IS LARGELY UNAWARE
OF THE PROBLEM JUST ABOVE HER,
SHE AND HER FAMILY ARE FORCED TO DEAL
WITH ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE OF THE CLUTTER.
Denise: YES, I HAVE A MOUSE PROBLEM.
AND THEY HAVE NO FEAR WHATSOEVER.
THEY JUST STAND THERE, AND THEY LOOK AT YOU.
WE SEE THEM PEEKING OUT OF THE CEILING,
AND IN THE BEDROOMS, WE SEE THEM CLAWING THROUGH.
THERE'S ALWAYS MICE POO EVERYWHERE.
AND I HEAR THE MICE, AND THEY GO "SQUEAK, SQUEAK."
Lalie: THE MICE MAKE MY LIFE VERY HARD
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO CLEAN EVERY DAY, SO MUCH EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S SANITIZED
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY BRING BUGS.
THEY BRING UP THE TICKS AND THE FLEAS AND EVERYTHING,
SO WE HAVE TO KEEP IT REALLY CLEAN.
TERRIBLE.
TERRIBLE THAT I HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS AND MY KIDS.
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.
Narrator: NOW LALIE AND HER FAMILY HAVE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE.
[ DOG WHIMPERS ]
UNLESS DENISE TAKES IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CLEAN THE BUILDING,
HER TENANTS HAVE PLANS TO MOVE OUT,
A FINANCIAL HIT THAT SHE CANNOT AFFORD.
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DISABILITY
AND I HAVE A LITTLE PENSION COMING IN,
I AM IN FORECLOSURE.
AND WITH ALL THE HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE HAD,
LETTING THINGS GET SO BAD THAT, YOU KNOW,
I'M PUTTING NOT JUST MY LIFE AT RISK
BUT OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.
IT IS VERY HARD TO HAVE A LONG-TERM TENANT GO AWAY.
Lalie: I KNOW SHE WANTS ME TO STAY.
I KNOW SHE DOES.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIVE THERE.
I COULDN'T DEAL WITH THAT. [ SNIFFLES ]
COME ON. YOU CAN DO IT, HONEY.
GOOD BOY.
Narrator: FOR CHICAGO NATIVE DENISE,
A 2x3-FOOT SECTION OF HER BED STANDS AS THE FINAL SURFACE
UNAFFECTED BY THE IMMENSE HOARD.
I WISH I DID HAVE A NORMAL PLACE TO EAT
INSTEAD OF BALANCING ON A BOOK MY PLATE,
HAVING TO SHARE WITH DOGS
THAT ARE UP IN MY FACE.
YOU KNOW, I JUST KEPT PILING STUFF UP AND UP AND UP.
AND I COULDN'T GET TO THE LIVING ROOM
WITHOUT CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN.
THE DINING ROOM GOT ALL MESSED UP WITH CLOTHES.
SO I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN THE KITCHEN MICROWAVING THINGS,
AND I WOULD EAT IN BED.
Narrator: DENISE'S HOME HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN FILLED WITH CLUTTER.
IN FACT, THERE WAS A TIME IN HER LIFE
THAT SHE WENT WITH VERY FEW POSSESSIONS.
I THINK I CAN'T LET GO OF THINGS
BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, I LUSTED FOR A LOUIS VUITTON DOCTOR BAG
'CAUSE I SAW SOME RICH LADY ON MICHIGAN AVENUE WITH ONE,
AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT.
POSSESSIONS JUST BECAME SO IMPORTANT,
SO I JUST WASTED THE MONEY ON THINGS.
Narrator: THIS UNCHECKED SPENDING
HAS LEFT DENISE ALL BUT BANKRUPT AND WITHOUT AN INCH TO SPARE.
TO COMPLICATE MATTERS FURTHER,
HER DOWNSTAIRS TENANTS HAVE REACHED THE END OF THEIR ROPE
AND WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE THE SMELL AND VERMIN INFESTATION
THAT HAS INVADED THE BUILDING.
I'M TRYING NOT TO BE UPSET WITH HER, BUT I AM. I AM.
DEEP DOWN INSIDE, I REALLY AM.
WE HAVE TO KEEP ALL OUR STUFF IN MY LIVING ROOM IN BINS
BECAUSE I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE STORAGE IN THE BASEMENT,
BUT DENISE HAS TAKEN OVER IT ALL.
AND WITH THE MICE AND ALL THE ROACHES,
I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY STUFF DOWN THERE.
LALIE THINKS PROBABLY MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT SHE HAS
ARE COMING FROM THE BASEMENT.
SHE HAS NO IDEA THAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
ARE COMING FROM UPSTAIRS GOING DOWN.
Narrator: AND EVERY DAY THAT DENISE TRIES TO KEEP HER HOARD
HIDDEN FROM LALIE, TENSIONS RISE BETWEEN THE LANDLORD AND TENANT.
LALIE CALLED, AND SHE WANTED ME TO COME DOWNSTAIRS.
SHE WANTED TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.
THAT BECOMES A LITTLE NERVE-WRACKING
WHEN YOU GET A CALL LIKE THAT, SO...
HI.
HI.
COME ON IN.
THANKS.
I NEED HER TO COME DOWN HERE
AND SEE THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH THE MICE.
I'M JUST TIRED OF IT,
AND I NEED HER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OKAY, THIS IS MY DINING ROOM.
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S MY DINING ROOM AND MY LIVING ROOM,
MY KITCHEN, AND EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE MICE COMING ALL AROUND RUNNING BACK AND FORTH
WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE TRYING TO WATCH TV.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE MOUSE PROBLEM DOWNSTAIRS WAS SO BAD
THAT THEY WERE CATCHING LIKE ONE MOUSE A DAY.
I KNOW SHE'S HAD ISSUES BEFORE,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS AS BAD AS IT WAS.
THEY WAKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
OKAY.
YES.
THEY WAKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
THEY WAKE HER UP. RIGHT, LILA?
YOU BE SCARED SOMETIMES? YEAH?
WHAT DO THEY DO TO YOU?
THEY SCARE ME.
THE MICE SCARE YOU? AND WHAT ELSE?
THEY BITE ME.
AND THEY BITE YOU.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S THE MICE.
MAYBE JUST SOME BUGS THAT COME WITH THE MICE OR SOMETHING.
WATER BUGS OR WHATEVER.
WHERE THEY BITE YOU?
SHOW HER WHERE THEY BIT YOU, BABY.
YOU CAN SEE SCABS.
LITTLE SCARS YOU STILL HAVE THERE, RIGHT?
LIKE HERE?
I ENDED UP TAKING HER TO THE HOSPITAL, YES.
I'VE TAKEN HER TO A HOSPITAL TWICE ALREADY FOR THIS.
I FEEL REALLY BAD THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE HER
TO THE HOSPITAL NOT JUST ONCE, BUT TWICE.
AND, LILA, I'M SORRY.
IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
[ SNIFFLES ] IT MAKES ME FEEL SO BAD.
LALIE SAID THAT THE WORST WAS IN THE BEDROOM,
WHICH MEANS THEY WERE COMING FROM MY BEDROOM UPSTAIRS.
I WISH I COULD TELL LALIE THE TRUTH, BUT I CAN'T.
I'M JUST TOO ASHAMED AND TOO EMBARRASSED.
I'M REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS,
SO IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING SOON,
I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE OUT.
OKAY.
THE FACT THAT...
I JUST FOUND OUT
HOW BAD THINGS REALLY WERE FOR THEM,
THAT I MADE A COMMITMENT TO LALIE
THAT I'M GONNA MAKE A CHANGE TO MAKE IT BETTER,
'CAUSE YOU NEVER MEAN TO HURT ANYBODY --
INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL.
I'M NOT THAT TYPE OF PERSON.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH DENISE
CONTINUES TO KEEP HER HOARD A SECRET
FROM HER TENANTS BELOW HER,
SHE HAS DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO HER LONG-TIME FRIEND
AND NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR BARBARA FOR HELP.
I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
BUT WHILE THE TWO HAVE SHARED A FRIENDSHIP FOR YEARS,
BARBARA HAS NEVER BEEN INSIDE DENISE'S HOME.
SHE'S JUST THAT AVERAGE-GOING IN PERSON.
NORMAL, ACT NORMAL.
SHE'S THAT NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR.
IF ANYONE HAD TOLD ME DENISE WAS A HOARDER,
I'D HAVE IMMEDIATELY SAID "YOU'RE LYING."
THAT BAD, HUH?
THAT BAD.
NO. NOT DENISE.
OH, WOW, DENISE.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING.
Denise: JUST BE CAREFUL.
DENISE, WHAT HAPPENED?
I DIDN'T THROW MUCH OF ANYTHING OUT AND KEPT BUYING MORE.
BUT, DENISE, THAT CREATES A PROBLEM.
LOOK AT ALL THIS STUFF OVER HERE.
OH, MY GOD.
YOU HAVE TO GO SIDEWAYS.
OH, MY GOD.
DENISE, YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS.
YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS.
HOW CAN YOU LIVE LIKE THIS?
DENISE, YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS!
YOU CAN LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.
WHICH IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
NO, DENISE.
HOW IS THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO?
LOOK AT THIS MESS, DENISE!
Barbara: I WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO TELL ME THE SAME THING
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
FOR A PERSON TO REALLY OPEN THEIR EYES
AND SEE WHAT THE OTHER PERSON SEES.
IS THIS WORSE THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS?
DENISE, THIS IS FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN I THOUGHT!
FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT.
DENISE, YOU'RE A LADY. YOU'RE A WOMAN.
DENISE, YOU DESERVE TO LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.
COME ON, NOW.
YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS!
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL YET.
DENISE, I'M SEEING ENOUGH RIGHT HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT SCARES ME TO SEE THE REST OF THIS!
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: JUST A FEW STEPS INSIDE HER APARTMENT,
DENISE'S CLOSE FRIEND BARBARA
IS SHOCKED WHEN SHE SEES THE MASSIVE HOARD
THAT DENISE HAS BEEN HIDING FOR YEARS.
IS THIS WORSE THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS?
DENISE, THIS IS FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN I THOUGHT!
FAR BEYOND WORSE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT.
YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS!
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL YET.
Barbara: I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST WALKING THROUGH GARBAGE.
DON'T KNOW WHAT ROOM IS WHAT ROOM
BECAUSE, TO ME, EVERY ROOM WAS A GARBAGE ROOM,
A DUMP.
DENISE.
DENISE.
ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU ACTUALLY USE THIS WASHROOM?
NOT IN THE SENSE YOU WOULD THINK.
WHAT SENSE DO I THINK, DENISE?
NOT LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD USE THEIR BATHROOMS.
DENISE, I'M NORMAL, YOU'RE NORMAL.
YOU TELL ME WHAT I'M THINKING.
YOU HAVE TOO MUCH LOVE AROUND YOU, DENISE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN LET ANYBODY IN TO FIX, NOW, IS IT?
WHY NOT?
I MEAN, YOU STARTED IT LIKE THIS.
IT ENDED UP LIKE THIS.
SO WHY CAN'T YOU LET SOMEBODY ELSE IN
TO FIX IT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE?
I WILL, BUT I WAS TOO ASHAMED AND TOO EMBARRASSED
TO LET ANYBODY IN TO FIX IT.
IT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING TO TALK ABOUT THE BATHROOM.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAD TO DO
TO COPE WITH IT...
AND JUST TO DO BASIC FUNCTIONS EVERY DAY.
OH, HELL, NO. DENISE.
THE STOVE DOESN'T WORK.
THIS THE STOVE?
THAT'S THE STOVE.
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN NOT WORKING?
LIKE THREE YEARS.
Barbara: THE KITCHEN IS...
NOT A KITCHEN.
THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS IN HERE --
DENISE, WHERE'S THE SINK?
UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT.
DOES IT WORK?
IT USED TO.
WHEN DID IT STOP?
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT STUFF UP THERE?
I DONE WENT THROUGH YOUR HOUSE,
AND I NEVER THOUGHT YOU LIVED LIKE THIS.
I LOVE YOU WITH THE LOVE OF GOD.
I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART.
WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO DO TO MAKE THIS BETTER,
I'M WITH YOU.
BUT THE QUESTION IS,
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO HELP YOURSELF?
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO BETTER YOURSELF?
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE ONLY WAY DENISE IS GONNA FEEL BETTER
IS WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND HER IS BETTER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
YOU WILL NOT LIVE LIKE THIS, NOT WITH ME NEXT DOOR.
NOT WITH ME.
I'M HERE.
[ Voice breaking ] I MEAN, SHE SAYS SHE'S EMBARRASSED.
NO.
TO ME, THAT'S DEPRESSION.
THAT'S GIVING UP.
THAT'S "I DON'T CARE. WHAT THE HELL."
THE WAY SHE PRESENTS HERSELF AND EVERYTHING,
YOU NEVER WOULD THINK SHE LIVED LIKE THAT.
IT MAKES ME CRY BECAUSE SHE'S A BETTER PERSON THAN THAT.
AND I KNOW DEEP DOWN INSIDE HER
SHE'S A BETTER PERSON THAN THAT.
Narrator: IN CHICAGO,
COMPULSIVE HOARDER DENISE
HAS BEEN BATTLING VARIOUS FORMS OF CANCER SINCE 1987.
I HAVE TO TAKE ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT MEDICINES A DAY
PLUS A PAIN PATCH, SO THAT WOULD BE 16.
THIS IS PROBABLY A GOOD SIX MONTHS' WORTH OF MEDICINE.
IN THIS PARTICULAR BAG WHICH TRAVELS FROM ROOM TO ROOM,
I HAVE MY PAIN PILLS IN HERE.
Narrator: AS DENISE'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO WORSEN,
SO DO THE CONDITIONS INSIDE HER HOME.
AS A RESULT, INFESTATIONS OF BUGS AND MICE
HAVEN'T JUST INFILTRATED HER UNIT,
BUT ALSO THE APARTMENT OF DENISE'S TENANTS
WHO LIVE BELOW HER.
"FRUSTRATED" ISN'T THE WORD.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE 10 YEARS.
THAT'S HOW LONG, AND I THINK THAT'S TOO LONG ALREADY.
I THINK IT'S ENOUGH, AND I REALLY WANT TO LEAVE.
I DO.
Narrator: DESPERATE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT,
DENISE IS HOPING
THAT PSYCHOTHERAPIST DR. CHRISTINA NOBLE
CAN HELP HER BEGIN THE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TASK
OF CLEANING OUT HER HOME.
IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THE HELP,
'CAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON MY OWN DOING IT MYSELF.
BUT I NEED HELP.
THE DOOR'S OPEN! COME IN!
HI.
HI, DENISE. I'M DR. CHRISTINA NOBLE.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
HI, DR. NOBLE. THANKS FOR COMING.
ABSOLUTELY.
THE INSTANT I STEPPED INTO THE DOOR, THE SMELL HIT ME.
IT SMELLED REALLY STRONGLY OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL FECES,
SO I KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN
FOR SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FILTH.
THIS IS MY DINING ROOM HERE,
AND THIS IS WHERE I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON MY COMPUTER.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO,
BASICALLY THE WHOLE FRONT AREA OF YOUR HOUSE
IS NOT USEABLE AT THIS TIME.
NO. NOT AT ALL.
I'M NOTICING THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF COLLECTIBLES.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MOSTLY CLOTHES AND LOTS OF TRASH.
RIGHT.
UNDERNEATH STUFF...
ARE COLLECTIBLES, UNDERNEATH THE CLOTHING.
THERE WAS DUST EVERYWHERE, DUST HANGING FROM THE CEILING.
SHE AND THE DOGS HAD BEEN LIVING
IN THIS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UNHEALTHY AREA.
OKAY, SO I'M...
I NOTICE THE BATHROOM ITSELF
IS COMPLETELY NOT FUNCTIONAL AT THIS TIME.
THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY.
WHEN I LOOKED IN THE BATHROOM,
I NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THE PLUMBING HADN'T BEEN WORKING
FOR A VERY LONG TIME,
DENISE HAD BEEN USING TOWELETTES TO BATHE HERSELF.
IT MADE ME MUCH MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SANITARY ISSUES IN HER HOUSE
AND ALSO ABOUT HER GENERAL WELL BEING.
AND I'M NOTICING THE SMELL IS PRETTY INTENSE RIGHT HERE.
YES.
THIS ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU.
NO. NOT AT ALL.
OKAY.
WALKING THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH THE DOCTOR WAS DIFFICULT,
BUT SHE WAS NON-JUDGMENTAL.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE JUST LOOKED AT THINGS
AND PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
SO, I'M WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED.
OBVIOUSLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SERIOUS THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED FOR YOU
THAT HAVE RESULTED IN YOUR STOPPING AND SHUTTING DOWN.
RECENTLY JOB LOSS IN 2009.
I HAD SURGERY 2010, 2011, 2012.
THEY TOOK OUT PART OF MY PANCREAS AND MY SPLEEN.
I WOUND UP IN A COMA.
SO, IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT MEDICAL ISSUES
THAT YOU'VE HAD
AND THE SURGERIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
I MEAN, THE IMPACT OF THIS HOUSE ON YOUR HEALTH
AND ON YOUR HEALING MUST BE SO INTENSE.
IT IS INTENSE. IT'S NOT GOOD.
THIS IS A NIGHTMARE FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S HAD SURGERY.
SHE HAS OPEN WOUNDS THAT HAVE NEVER HEALED
AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CONTAMINANTS IN THAT HOUSE
THAT ARE GONNA IMPEDE HER HEALING PROCESS.
THE OTHER CONCERNING THING
IS THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOT OF ANIMAL FECAL MATTER
IN THE HOUSE
AND THEN ALSO OBVIOUSLY IN THE BATHROOM...
HUMAN FECAL MATTER.
SO THE CONCERN FOR THINGS LIKE STAPH INFECTIONS
IS EXTREMELY HIGH.
RIGHT. I'VE HAD MRSA TWICE.
I WAS IN ICU FOR A WEEK EACH TIME POST-SURGERY.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR HOARDERS
TO NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR HOARD.
AND IN DENISE'S CASE, THAT WAS DEFINITELY TRUE.
AT SOME POINT, SOME HOARDERS DO RESIGN THEMSELVES TO THE FACT
THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE.
AND THEN THEY ALMOST BECOME BLIND TO THIS CHAOS
THAT'S COME TO SURROUND THEM.
AND SO I WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER
IN THE SPACE WHERE SHE HAD TO BE SURROUNDED
BY THE THINGS THAT SHE'D BEEN LIVING IN.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE DECIDED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A TALK.
OKAY.
OKAY.
DENISE, TELL ME ABOUT THE STAKES OF THIS HOUSE
AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT WAS NOT CLEANED UP.
I WOULD PROBABLY DISAPPEAR IN THIS HOUSE IF I GOT SICK.
NOBODY WOULD KNOW.
I COULD DIE IN HERE.
UH...
THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS,
THEY'RE AFFECTED BY THIS
EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT.
MM-HMM.
SO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT YOUR TENANTS COMING IN?
TERRIFIED. I'M ABSOLUTELY --
MY TENANTS KNOW HOW BAD IT IS IN THE BASEMENT,
BUT IN 10 YEARS, THEY'VE NOT BEEN UP HERE.
OKAY.
I MEAN, THINGS WERE NOT NEARLY AS BAD WHEN THEY MOVED IN.
SO I'M HOPING, YOU KNOW,
ASIDE FROM [SNIFFLES] THE SHOCK FACTOR
AND THE FEELING-SORRY FACTOR...
THAT THEY DON'T GIVE UP ON ME.
OKAY.
[ SNIFFLES ]
A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
YEAH. [ SNIFFLES ]
I HAVE HOPE FOR TOMORROW.
I THINK THAT SHE IS IN A GREAT PLACE
TO REALLY MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS.
SHE'S DEFINITELY THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE AMOUNT OF STUFF IN THAT HOUSE,
IT'S GONNA BE TOO MUCH TO DO IN ONE DAY.
I'M FEELING CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAMILY DOWNSTAIRS, AS WELL.
THEY'VE BEEN LIVING UNDERNEATH A PRETTY UNSANITARY SITUATION
FOR A PRETTY LONG TIME.
I KNOW DENISE SAID THAT HER WORST FEAR
WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD DECIDE TO MOVE OUT,
AND ONCE THEY'VE ACTUALLY SEEN WHAT THE UPSTAIRS LOOKS LIKE,
MAY MAKE THE DECISION TO LEAVE.
Narrator: IN LESS THAN AN HOUR,
A CREW OF HAULERS WILL ARRIVE AT DENISE'S HOME
IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAR HER APARTMENT
OF THE MASSIVE HOARD SHE HAS ACCUMULATED.
[ DENISE SIGHS ]
Narrator: KNOWING THAT MOST OF HER THINGS WILL NEED TO GO,
DENISE TAKES ONE FINAL PASS THROUGH THE PILES.
IT'S COACH.
IT STAYS.
I HAVE TO DO IT.
I HAVE TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS LIVEABLE.
I'M A LITTLE SCARED I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET AS MUCH DONE
AS I THINK I WILL.
BUT THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF HELP,
SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL --
WITH HELP FROM OTHER PEOPLE,
THIS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE.
[ TRUCK BEEPING ]
Narrator: WITH THE DOWNSTAIRS TENANTS OUT FOR THE DAY,
DENISE IS HOPING TO REMOVE THE BULK OF THE HOARD
BEFORE THEY RETURN.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER AMY TRAGER
PREPARES THE TEAM OF HAULERS AND VOLUNTEERS
FOR THE DAUNTING TASK OF CLEARING OUT
THE MOUNDS OF CLUTTER IN JUST A FEW HOURS.
WE'RE GONNA START BY BAGGING UP THE TRASH.
WE'LL HAVE SOME PEOPLE BAGGING
AND SOME PEOPLE BRINGING IT DOWN.
AND WE'RE GONNA JUST CLEAR OUT AS MUCH SPACE AS WE CAN
AND SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GET.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY
AND TO JUST REITERATE THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT EVERYBODY REMEMBERS WHAT A HUGE STEP THIS IS FOR DENISE,
HOW BRAVE SHE IS FOR DOING THIS, AND WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL
AND TO LISTEN TO HER THIS ENTIRE DAY.
AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THIS DONE.
[ CHEERING ]
Narrator: WHILE THE FIRST TEAM GOES IN
TO TACKLE THE TOP LAYER OF THE HOARD,
A SECOND GROUP PREPARES FOR THE POTENTIAL DANGERS
THAT MAY LIE JUST BENEATH.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLICATIONS WITH THIS PLACE,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONDITIONS BEING WHAT THEY WERE.
THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THE HOUSE
THAT ARE DEFINITELY BIOHAZARD MATERIAL,
SO WE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT
IN THE MOST SAFE WAY POSSIBLE,
SO WE ARE HAVING TO SUIT UP FULLY,
WHICH DOES ALSO TAKE AWAY FROM OUR TIME.
WE'RE FINDING MOUSE DROPPINGS.
WE'RE FINDING DOG AND CAT FECES.
WE'RE FINDING SOAKING-WET BLANKETS
AND TARPS AND CRAZY STUFF, YEAH.
THE PILES ARE ABOUT AS TALL AS I AM.
I'M WORRIED THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS
AS WE HOPED AND MAYBE DENISE WAS EXPECTING US TO.
Narrator: DESPITE THE CREW'S SKEPTICISM,
DENISE IS ALREADY SHOWING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS
IN DECIDING WHAT SHOULD STAY AND WHAT SHOULD GO.
OH, NO, YOU COULD SO THROW THAT AWAY.
MAGAZINES GO. THE BOOKS GO.
OR YOU COULD GET RID OF THE BOOKSHELF.
JUST LEAVE THAT ONE. THAT'S FINE.
LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE DUMPSTER,
IT MADE ME REALIZE
THAT I DO HAVE THAT MUCH STUFF IN MY HOUSE
THAT I'M GONNA FILL THAT UP.
PROBABLY MORE THAN ONE DUMPSTER.
PROBABLY TWO OR THREE.
IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SEE IT GO.
DENISE WAS DOING GREAT.
WE WERE MOVING ALONG. EVERYBODY WAS CLEANING UP STUFF.
IT WAS ACTUALLY FLOWING REALLY WELL.
Denise: I MEAN, I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THAT ROOM FOR SO LONG
AND FOUND OUT I HAD A FILING CABINET
THAT I FORGOT ABOUT.
AND HOW ARE YOU FEELING WITH SEEING ALL THE STUFF MOVE OUT?
I'M FEELING GREAT.
OKAY.
Narrator: BUT DENISE'S ELATION QUICKLY DISSIPATES
WHEN SHE DISCOVERS SOMETHING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY TOSSED OUT.
IT'S NOT THERE.
IT'S GOT MY PHONE AND MY WALLET IN IT.
Man: IS THAT IT?
NO.
IT'S, LIKE, BEIGE AND GREEN.
[ SNIFFS ]
SO, ONCE WE REALIZED THAT HER PURSE WAS GONE
AND IT HAD BEEN THROWN INTO ONE OF THE BAGS, EVERYTHING STOPPED.
Man #2: OH, WOW.
WE HAD TO PUT BOTH TRUCKS TOGETHER,
UNLOAD ONE OF THE TRUCKS THAT WE ALREADY LOADED UP
INTO THE EMPTY ONE AND OPEN UP ALL THE BAGS,
EMPTY THEM, GO THROUGH ALL THAT STUFF AGAIN.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
OKAY. NEXT.
I'M VERY UPSET ABOUT IT,
BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU'LL PROBABLY GETTING CLOSER TO THE DINING ROOM.
BAGS AFTER BAGS COMING OUT, GOING BACK INTO THE NEW TRAILER,
AND SHE'S STILL WORRIED 'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T FOUND IT YET.
Narrator: WITH THE PILES OF SCATTERED TRASH MOUNTING,
DENISE AND THE CREW ARE BEGINNING TO FEAR
THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK,
LEAVING THEM WITH ONE LAST OPTION TO LOCATE HER BAG.
IT'S RINGING.
I HEAR IT. I HEAR IT!
YEAH!
SHH, SHH, SHH.
CALL IT AGAIN.
I HEAR IT. IT'S RIGHT HERE.
HOLD ON.
IS THAT THE BAD BOY?
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
NO JOB'S TOO SMALL FOR ABRAHAM MOVING.
Denise: JUST DUMP IT WHERE WE CAN SEE IT.
THERE IT IS!
MY GLASSES.
OKAY, LET'S GET EVERYTHING.
OH, MY GOD. THANK YOU.
Narrator: WITH HER BAG BACK IN HER POSSESSION
AND ONLY A FEW MORE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT LEFT,
DENISE AND THE CREW PUSH FORWARD
TO GET AS MUCH OUT OF THE HOUSE AS POSSIBLE.
THE DRESSER, THE FURNITURE STAY, OKAY?
STUFF IN IT, LEAVE?
JUST LEAVE IT. WE'LL GO THROUGH IT.
Man: THE NEIGHBOR'S COMING BY.
Narrator: BUT THE DELAY TURNS OUT TO BE A COSTLY ONE
WHEN LALIE, THE DOWNSTAIRS TENANT,
ARRIVES EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.
Lalie: I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL OF THIS IS COMING OUT OF HER APARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS,
AND I HAVE TO GO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IT'S SO MUCH.
PEOPLE IN THOSE SUITS
AND THE GAS MASKS AND THESE DUMPSTERS.
I WANT TO GO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
OH, MY GOD.
HI.
HOW YOU DOING?
HANGING.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
YEAH.
Lalie: I'M NODDING MY HEAD,
JUST NOT BELIEVING WHAT I WAS SEEING
AND KNOWING THAT SHE LIVED LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.
[ Voice breaking ] SHE WAS APOLOGIZING,
BUT...IT'S HARD.
TERRIBLE.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THIS BAD.
REALLY, I DIDN'T.
IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO EVEN LOOK AT LALIE
WHEN SHE WALKED IN.
[ SNIFFLES ]
YEAH, I JUST FEEL AS IF I DISAPPOINTED HER.
Lalie: [ Voice breaking ] IT'S HARD.
IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT WE LIVED UNDER.
IT HURTS ME NOW TO KNOW WHY MY LITTLE ONE
WAS GETTING BIT LIKE SHE WAS,
YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WE HAD TO LIVE LIKE.
I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THIS BAD.
REALLY, I DIDN'T.
Narrator: AFTER 10 YEARS OF LIVING BENEATH DENISE'S HOARD,
LALIE HAS FINALLY SEEN FIRSTHAND
WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING HER FAMILY SO MUCH TURMOIL.
I'M HURT.
I'M HURT THAT SHE DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.
I REALIZE WHY I HAVE SO MANY MICE AND BUGS.
I DO.
AND IT'S TERRIBLE. [ SNIFFLES ]
I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
OKAY.
[ SNIFFLES ]
Denise: NOW I WORRY THAT I'M GONNA LOSE HER
AS, YOU KNOW, MY TENANT, MY FRIEND.
I ASKED HER NOT TO GIVE UP ON ME.
SHE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS.
HI.
HI.
WOULD IT BE OKAY IF I CAME IN AND WE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT?
NO. COME ON IN.
I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT LALIE.
WHEN SHE CAME INTO DENISE'S PLACE,
SHE WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW UPSTAIRS?
[ Voice breaking ] IT'S TERRIBLE.
IT REALLY IS. I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS SO BAD.
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LIVING UNDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OKAY.
Noble: WHEN LALIE WENT INTO THE HOUSE,
SHE WAS REALLY EMOTIONAL.
THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT, YOU KNOW,
SHE HAD A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH,
AND SHE FELT LIKE SHE'D BEEN LIED TO.
YES, I'M ANGRY.
I'M ANGRY BECAUSE, I MEAN, SHE HID IT SO WELL.
AND I KNOW OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT HOARDERS,
THEY'RE JUST OVERWHELMED BY THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW.
BUT HOARDERS ARE AMAZINGLY GOOD AT HIDING THESE THINGS.
AND IN MEETING DENISE AND TALKING WITH HER,
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW.
NO. NO. I NEVER SUSPECTED.
WE'RE NOTHING LIKE HER. I'M A VERY CLEAN PERSON.
AND I LIKE TO BE CLEAN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT JUST --
WHEN YOU LIVE SOMEBODY LIKE THIS AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IT,
I MEAN [SNIFFLES] THEY MAKE YOU LOOK BAD, YOU KNOW?
AND IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN,
I KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF THERE WAY BEFORE THIS.
WAY BEFORE THIS.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE THE EMOTIONAL ENCOUNTER
BETWEEN DENISE AND HER DOWNSTAIRS TENANT, LALIE.
DURING THAT TIME,
DENISE HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS
FOR HER OWN SAKE,
AS WELL AS TO HELP CONVINCE HER TENANTS TO STAY.
[ COMPUTER KEYS CLACKING ]
I'VE BEEN BUSY CLEANING,
THROWING THINGS OUT,
GETTING IT SET UP THE WAY I WANT IT SET UP.
I THINK WHEN LALIE SEES THE HOUSE,
SHE'S GONNA BE STUNNED.
JUST ABSOLUTELY STUNNED.
HI, LALIE.
HI.
COME ON IN.
THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR COMING UP.
WOW.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!
YOU'VE DONE A LOT. WOW!
I WAS SHOCKED LIKE THE FIRST TIME.
I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THE BIG DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW YOU REMEMBER THIS ROOM.
YES. YES.
AND EVERYTHING HAS GOTTEN CLEARED OUT.
YES. I LIKE THE COLORS, DENISE.
VERY NICE.
THANK YOU.
EVENTUALLY WE'LL PAINT AND THINGS,
BUT ONE THING AT A TIME.
SURE.
Lalie: THERE WASN'T NOTHING TO SEE BUT A BUNCH OF GARBAGE.
BUT NOW YOU COULD SEE THE WALLS.
YOU CAN SEE THE ENTRANCE.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING.
IT'S A BIG CHANGE. BIG, BEAUTIFUL CHANGE.
Denise: I AM SO HAPPY THAT I CAN FINALLY HAVE SOMEBODY COME UP
THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR
INSTEAD OF COMING AROUND THE BACK PORCH
AND STANDING OUT THERE
AND ME TALKING THROUGH THE DOOR GOING OUT ON THE PORCH.
I AM TICKLED PINK I CAN HAVE PEOPLE OVER.
COME ON. I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL.
I KNOW YOU REMEMBER WHAT A HORROR SHOW THIS WAS BEFORE.
SO I'VE HAD IT CLEANED PROFESSIONALLY,
SANITIZED.
THE BATHROOM IS LIKE A WHOLE-NEW WORLD.
I HAVE A NEW TUB, A NEW SINK,
A NEW TOILET, NEW FLOORING.
IT'S BEEN CLEANED.
AND IT'S FUNCTIONAL,
AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.
Lalie: WOW.
COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS LIKE THIS.
YOU COULDN'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING,
SO, I MEAN, NOW TO SEE THE WALLS
AND EVERYTHING SET UP, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, A WORK-IN-PROGRESS.
THERE'S STILL MORE TO DO, BUT...
Lalie: WOW. DENISE!
I FEEL A LOT BETTER NOW. A LOT BETTER.
I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, SEEING AS MANY MICE IN MY APARTMENT,
AND I JUST HOPE THAT SHE KEEPS UP WITH IT
'CAUSE SHE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
A GREAT JOB.
IF YOU KEEP THIS UP,
YOU'LL HAVE ME HERE FOR A FEW MORE YEARS AS YOUR TENANT.
SEE THE KIDS GROW UP.
YES!
OH, THANK YOU.
OH, I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT.
DO YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN?
SURE. LET'S SIT DOWN.
GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU.
I AM SO PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT I DID.
IT TOOK A LOT OF GUTS, A LOT OF COURAGE.
THERE'S LESS OF EVERYTHING LEFT IN THE APARTMENT.
WHILE THAT IN ITSELF IS A CHALLENGE TO COPE WITH AT TIMES,
I AM MUCH, MUCH HAPPIER THE WAY THE APARTMENT IS NOW.