Afleveringen
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For Lisa Hover and her husband Andy, life on the Hampshire Dorset border with their family of four children seemed idyllic. Even when a routine sight test on their young daughter Annabelle picked up an abnormality, it all seemed manageable. But the abnormality turned out to be early sight loss, which itself masked a more severe and life shortening genetic condition. With no cure available, Annabelle was determined the most from her limited life span.
Lisa talks to Dr Sian Williams about the challenges, joys and sadness she experienced - and Annabelle's dream to have a white Christmas with all the family.
Producer: Tom Alban
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As a young man, Mohammed, AKA MFA Zaman, arrived in Britain from Bangladesh with a working visa, a patron and a job lined up as a chef. On arrival though, the promises of a bright future turned to ashes when he became a victim of modern slavery. But at this lowest of low ebbs in his life, Mohammed decided that he needed to do something - and that something was to volunteer at an old people's community club in Lewisham, near where he was living.
Mohammed tells Dr Sian Williams how this life-changing decision helped him to find freedom.
Producer: Tom Alban
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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After a whirlwind romance, Paul Mason and his wife Isabel were in no doubt that they wanted to start a family. It was not easy, but eventually that ordinary miracle happened. And yet it was a little more than ordinary - because they discovered they were to be parents to triplets.
Paul tells Dr Sian Williams about the joyful and harrowing life-changing events of his childrenâs birth, and explains how the family have since discovered the extraordinary generosity of strangers.
Producer: Tom Alban
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Mother-of-two young children, Tanja Bage, had always been a keen singer and performer, so she was increasingly aware of her shortness of breath. The diagnosis was cancer, which required almost immediate surgery to remove the tumour, and with it her vocal chords. She would be losing her voice, and she had just a week to prepare herself and her family.
Tanja tells Dr Sian Williams about navigating the challenges of motherhood whilst having to re-learn how to speak â and reveals an exciting new artistic venture which has changed her life.
Producer: Tom Alban
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After moving to Los Angeles, 12-year-old Dan Edozie and his mother were left homeless and begging for food. Life was not easy: they slept where they could, sometimes on public transport, sometimes in the refuges of the cityâs infamous Skid Row. But a chance separation from his mother was about to change his fortunes forever.
Dan tells Dr Sian Williams how this life-changing moment allowed him to take control of his own destiny and set his sights on sporting greatness.
Producer: Elaina Boeteng
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Sarah Fairbairns spent much of her life feeling she was a bit different. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, she gained the reputation of a wild child â from travelling to India, to dancing on stage with the cast of iconic counter-culture musical Hair. And yet all the while, she faced bouts of sadness and depression, and a confusion as to why that should be. Later in life, Sarah made a discovery about a medical childhood trauma that changed the way she viewed the world â and wrote in to Life Changing to share her experience.
Now in her seventies, Sarah speaks to Dr Sian Williams about how confronting her past has provided belated but extraordinary relief.
Producer: Tom Alban
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Strapped to explosives, threatened with execution and packed into a vehicle with a suicide bomber, civil engineer Nick feared for his life. It was 2013, and he had found himself at the heart of a violent attack on the Algerian gas facility he was working at, carried out by a group later revealed to be affiliated to Al-Qaeda. It was a deadly hostage situation, in which 39 workers lost their lives â several of them Nickâs close colleagues.
Talking to Dr Sian Williams, he describes how the attack unfolded and why he has sought to use his horrific experience to support others facing similar trauma.
Producer: Tom Alban
Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and death. Details of help and support are available through the BBC Action Line at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
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Dr Sian Williams looks forward to another series of extraordinary stories.
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When twins Georgia and Melissa Laurie set off a once-in-lifetime adventure to Mexico in 2021, they thought it would be an opportunity for some sisterly bonding. Whilst on their travels, they went for an ill-fated swim in a lagoon â and found themselves in a terrifying fight for survival.
They tell their incredible story to Dr Sian Williams, and explain how in that moment, and over the years that followed, their love for each other kept them alive.
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Tony Redmond was an experienced medical doctor from Manchester, used to dealing with challenging situations. In December 1988, he attended two major global disasters that left him feeling a broken man, ready to hang up his stethoscope. But it turned out he was not quite done yet.
After writing in to Life Changing about his experience, Dr Sian Williams invited him onto the podcast to share his story.
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Tier Blundell was never a bad kid. He was bright and curious, but also disruptive. Growing up sandwiched between two cultures, he felt excluded from society. Those feelings were amplified when aged 11, Tier was informed by his school that he would not be welcome back following the summer holidays â instead being sent to a Pupil Referral Unit. He left there with no qualifications and a sense of shame, until the day he put on a suit, turned up for an unscheduled meeting and demanded another go at learning â the results of which are staggering.
Tier tells Dr Sian Williams his story, and why he demanded a reckoning with the education system.
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Su Chantry was adopted as a baby and grew up fantasising that she was the daughter of a French princess who would one day return for her. As an adult with her own family, Su received an unexpected and life-changing phone call.
Su tells Dr Sian Williams how she rushed to meet her mother, and they would spend just one day together â her mumâs last.
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Aged 19, Dan Simmonds turned down a university place and instead became an oil trader in the City of London. It was an exciting and ruthless environment driven by big risks and even greater rewards. But it ultimately challenged Danâs values and filled him with a desire to seek something new. Over a decade later, whilst jogging around Regentâs Park, Dan made a discovery that would change his life and career.
Dan tells his story to Dr Sian Williams.
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When nurse and midwife Agnes Nisbettâs third baby was delivered, she was confronted by a profound need for systemic change. Agnes came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation and despite many barriers, âsheer hard workâ got her to the top of her profession. However, her own hospital experience in the 1970s revealed just how flawed and uncaring the system could be.
Now in her 80s, Agnes looks back on her time in the NHS, and shares with Dr Sian Williams how her personal loss inspired her to challenge and change things for others.
Warning: This interview discusses the experience of stillbirth. Details of help and support with pregnancy-related issues are available through the BBC Action Line at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
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Georgia Gabriel-Hooper is now 20, she works for a tractor dealership and enjoys bumbling around the countryside. But as a child, she was witness to a terrible event: her mother, Cheryl, was murdered in a domestic homicide. Understandably, that day had a profound impact on Georgia â who has since shown extraordinary courage and determination to use her personal testimony to raise awareness and create change around domestic abuse.
Georgia tells her story to Dr Sian Williams.
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by domestic abuse or violence, you can find details of support available on the BBC Action Line at bbc.co.uk/actionline. If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999.
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In this special edition of Life Changing, recorded in front of a live audience at the Hay Festival, we are catching up with Harriet Ware-Austin, who was a guest on the programme in 2021.
Harriet had a difficult but important story to tell, concerning the deaths of her two sisters in a plane crash in Addis Ababa in April 1972. Harriet was only eight at the time and witnessed the event. Almost 50 years on, Harriet joined us to talk about the profound and long-lasting effects it had on her family. She also wanted to see if there was anyone else out there who had a connection to East African Airways Flight 720, but was totally unprepared for the extraordinary response her interview received.
Two years later, this is the story of what happened after that interview and how it has been life-changing all over again.
You can hear Harrietâs original interview here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v8w8
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Growing up in Newport with his mum and younger brother, Connor Allen struggled with his identity as a mixed race kid. He bottled up his feelings and as the anger and frustration built up, could not find the words to express his emotions. When his rage erupted into violence against his mum, she ended up doing the unthinkable and calling the police. He faced a prison sentence, his future at a crossroads.
Connor tells his story to Dr Sian Williams in front of a live audience at the Hay Festival in May 2023.
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When Alan and Irene met in 1959, their connection was instant. The two isolated children aged just seven and nine found warmth and kindness in each other in a childrenâs home that was unwelcoming and strict. They would steal moments together up on Bunny Hill and talk about their lives. But the home had a rule that boys and girls could not mix. So when their friendship was discovered, a year after they first met, Alan and Irene were separated. It would take four decades for them to find each other again.
Many years later, Irene and Alan tell their story to Dr Sian Williams.
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In August of 2006, Teresa Clark was driving five of her friends back home after a day at a music festival. Several hours into the journey she fell asleep at the wheel of their people carrier and crashed. Three passengers were killed, two others were injured as well as Teresa herself.
She was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and spent time in prison. The guilt and shame of carrying that loss of life almost destroyed her. But in the 17 years since it happened Teresa has rebuilt; she now works in the mental health and wellbeing sector trying to keep the vow she made to live her life for her friends, and do some good in their memory.
She tells Dr Sian Williams how she has rebuilt her life in the years since - keeping the vow she made to live her life for her friends, and do some good in their memory.
Details of support with mental health issues and bereavement are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.
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Ambitious police officer Clodagh Dunlop, 35, was used to dealing with emergency situations - until it was her own. Whilst training to run a 6-minute mile, her journey took a terrifying turn. Clodagh found herself trapped in her own body, hearing the conversations around her but unable to communicate.
Speaking with Dr Sian Williams, she explains how she found the strength to make a remarkable breakthrough.
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