HGTV Stars Who Have Suffered Heartbreaking Losses

Christina Hall has been on the HGTV scene since 2013 and has battled it all — both on and off the screen. From difficult remodels to her bitter custody battle with her ex-husband Ant Anstead, Hall's life in the limelight has been a struggle. However, nothing has come close to the heartbreak she felt at the end of one particular job.

On February 9, 2023, "Christina in the Country" dedicated its episode to Dr. Jessica Waldron, the sister-in-law of Hall's childhood best friend, Cassie Schienle. In 2021, Waldron was diagnosed with ALS, a "progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord" (per ALS Association). Hall wrote on Instagram that Waldron's disease spread quickly. "By mid 2022, she lost mobility of her legs, had to use a wheelchair and began to lose feeling in her hands," she wrote. So, Hall and the HGTV team decided to work together to remodel Jessica's home in the hopes of making it more accessible for her.

Although the team worked tirelessly to complete the remodel, tragedy struck on November 3, 2022, when Waldron died at 39 years old. When the episode aired, Hall and Schienle shed tears as they remembered their friend and family member. During an interview with People, Hall confessed: "Although she never got to see her home remodel complete, it was her vision for her family and something I am proud to have done for them."