BBC's The Repair Shop left fans reaching for the tissues as they hailed a recent restoration as the "most moving one yet". In Wednesday's episode (August 21), Lesley and her daughter Nicola brought in a beloved fluffy cat toy named Jess, which belongs to Lesley's foster son Colin. The family began providing respite care for Colin in 2012.
Colin, who is now twelve, suffers from Pierre Robin sequence, a rare birth defect that causes an underdeveloped jaw, breathing difficulties, inability to speak or chew, and requires PEG feeding. Colin also has heart issues. Jess has been by Colin's side through countless hospital stays and surgeries and is with him every night when he goes to sleep.
However, all this affection has worn Jess down, who is losing stuffing and has been patched up many times by Lesley but still needs extra care and expert attention. The outcome of the restoration had viewers welling up, amazed at the quality of the work. One viewer commented: "Jess' transformation must be the most moving repair yet," reports the Express .
Entrusting the worn-out toy to experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, they ensured Jess received extra care and attention, giving the cat a new lease on life. Later in the show, Lesley and Nicola returned to the Repair Shop barn to see the finished product. As surprising as it was to the viewers, Colin also made an appearance in the barn to retrieve his cherished toy.
Upon seeing Jess appear brand new post-restoration, Colin couldn't hel.