10/10/2026
Four-year-old Carter was born with a rare genetic condition, and from birth his developmental future has been uncertain. He spent the first two years of his life in and out of hospital, requiring highly specialised medical care, while his parents, Alex and Nikita, remained by his side day and night.
Carter lives with his parents and his older brother AJ. Alex is Carter’s full-time carer, while Nikita works full time to support the family. Carter is entirely dependent on his parents for all aspects of his care. He cannot speak, sit independently, or walk, and is fed via a tube directly into his
stomach. At night, he relies on a CPAP machine to maintain safe oxygen levels. Carter requires round-the-clock care and has a solid build for his age, weighing about 16kg and will only get bigger.
All bedrooms in the family home are upstairs, meaning Carter must be
carried several times a day between the bedroom, bathroom, and living area. Given the need for ongoing physiotherapy and the bulky equipment it requires, adequate storage at home is essential. It is recommended by his Occupational Therapist that the house be adapted for Carter but understandably due to the large cost this has not been possible.
Until DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland : The Big Build Ireland steps in... and it’s complete! Join this amazing family Sunday night at 6:30pm on RTÉ One
“I had the pleasure of meeting Alex and Carter a few weeks after the build for a chat. Alex’s devotion to Carters development is incredibly inspiring. It made me realise what is truly important as a father. Without knowing it, he had such a profound impact on me. Father to father I will do any thing I can to help Alex help Carter in anyway possible when needed, for the rest of my days” - Jeff Treacy
