Katie Price: Harvey and Me viewers were left in tears on Monday night as they got a glimpse into the model’s life with her disabled 18-year-old son.
The BBC film documented the highs and lows of Harvey transitioning into adulthood and Katie’s journey into researching for a specialist college that caters to Harvey’s complex needs.
Viewers tuning into the documentary were left extremely moved with one declaring they were ‘crying my eyes out, while others praised Katie, 42, for being such a great mum to Harvey.
Emotional: Katie Price: Harvey and Me viewers were left in tears on Monday night as they got a glimpse into the model’s life with her disabled 18-year-old son
The teen is on the autism spectrum and was born with disabilities including partial blindness, ADHD and Prader-Willi syndrome.
And the documentary saw Katie’s difficult task in finding a residential college for Harvey which wasn’t too far from home and in which her son felt comfortable in.
It also detailed her anguish at learning to let her son go as she worried whether he could cope without her.
At the forefront of everything was the emotional bond between Katie and Harvey, with the former glamour model clearly devoted to her son, while Harvey’s adoration of his mother was hard to miss.
Sweet: The BBC film documented the highs and lows of Harvey transitioning into adulthood and Katie’s journey into researching for a specialist college that caters to Harvey’s complex needs
Fans watching were touched by Katie and Harvey’s sweet relationship and their love for each other, with many taking to Twitter to share their thoughts and emotions.
‘Rather emotional watching this. I want to give Harvey a big hug. The love they have for each other. Can’t knock Katie at all’ commented one viewer.
While another said: ‘Crying my eyes out at #katieprice #harveyandme.’
A third emotional watcher tweeted: ‘Bless Harvey. Im crying.’
‘I loved watching that. I’m in tears. Harvey is such a gorgeous human. And you can see the bond you have. All the best to Harv in his next chapter’ said a fourth.
Mother and son: Viewers tuning into the documentary were left extremely moved with one declaring they were ‘crying my eyes out, while others praised Katie, 42, for being such a great mum to Harvey
‘Tears in my eyes watching #Katieprice #harveyandme. What a beautifully Kind and caring soul she is with Harv, I so hope they get the right college for him’ wrote a fifth fan.
With another adding: ‘Never thought I’d be emotional watching this. What an inspiration this young man is. Katie have done a fantastic job with him.’
One scene in the show saw Harvey become distressed and kick a door as he struggled to adjust to his new surrounding, with Katie making the decision to leave the college tour early, saying: ‘That was overwhelming for him.’
However, there was good news for Harvey later in the show as the pair visited National Star College in Ullenwood, near Cheltenham, with Harvey seeming delighted at the college.
Search: the documentary saw Katie’s difficult task in finding a residential college for Harvey which wasn’t too far from home and in which her son felt comfortable in
Bond: At the forefront of everything was the emotional bond between Katie and Harvey, with the former glamour model clearly devoted to her son, while Harvey’s adoration of his mother was hard to miss
While Katie also seemed happy with the residential place and discussed the application process with a teacher.
The show also saw Katie visit other mothers with children with similar disabilities to Harvey.
While in another emotional scene, she also headed to see a fellow mother whose autistic son Matthew Garnett, 15, was put in a mental health inpatient unit for 15 months in 2015 after his mental health deteriorated.
His mother, Isabelle, confirmed she lost all rights as a parent to her son while his was in the facility as she recalled the traumatic experience. She also said he was forcibly injected with high doses of anti-psychotic medication.
Emotional: Fans watching were touched by Katie and Harvey’s sweet relationship and their love for each other, with many taking to Twitter to share their thoughts and emotions
She told Katie: ‘When your child is sectioned it’s like you lose all your rights as a parent and they lose all their human rights.
‘He was drugged and that’s another form of chemical restraint. The guilt I felt that my son was in this place.
‘Even though it wasn’t my fault and I couldn’t control it I just felt such guilt I couldn’t protect him.’
Happy: There was good news for Harvey later in the show as the pair visited National Star College in Ullenwood, near Cheltenham, with Harvey seeming delighted at the college.
Chat: Katie headed to see a fellow mother whose autistic son Matthew Garnett, 15, was put in a mental health inpatient unit for 15 months in 2015 after his mental health deteriorated
So sad: His mother, Isabelle, confirmed she lost all rights as a parent to her son while his was in the facility as she recalled the traumatic experience. She also said he was forcibly injected with high doses of anti-psychotic medication
Distressing: In heartbreaking scenes, an emotional Katie was seen looking up other cases of children with similar health issues to Harvey being sectioned
In heartbreaking scenes, an emotional Katie was seen looking up other cases of children with similar health issues to Harvey being sectioned.
However, brighter moments of programme saw Harvey’s sweet friendship with pal Zak and their love of trains, with both boys expertly reciting train announcements.
Viewers also took to social media to praise Katie, who had four other children, for being a good mum to Harvey and for the ‘incredible job’ she’s doing in raising him.
Harvey’s father is former footballer Dwight Yorke, 49, and is not involved in Harvey’s life.
‘Have so much respect for @KatiePrice after watching #harveyandme . Brought Harvey up with no support from his so called dad, and his done an incredible job’ tweeted one viewer.
Friendship: However, brighter moments of programme saw Harvey’s sweet friendship with pal Zak and their love of trains, with both boys expertly reciting train announcements
Great relationship: Viewers also took to social media to praise Katie for being a good mum to Harvey and for the ‘incredible job’ she’s doing in raising him
While a second said: ‘Katie Price is such a good mum to Harvey, he may have complex needs but he is such a polite person and is obviously well looked after by her. A lot of parents could learn a few things from her.’
A third person declared: ‘My opinion on you has totally changed @KatiePrice You’re an incredible mum & a lovely person!’
With another adding: ‘People can say what they like about Katie Price but I won’t have a bad word said about her parenting skills. She has done everything for Harvey, she has campaigned and fought all her life. The vile trolls should be ashamed for making fun of a boy with difficulties.’
Praise: Fans were quick to give mother-of-five Katie praise over her parenting skills with Harvey
Tweeting after the show aired, Katie thanked programme makers as well as the public for their support and positive feedback.
She tweeted: ‘I wanted to say thank you so much to @bbcone, @Minnow_Films and the general public for all your support in the lead up to #HarveyandMe and the incredible feedback tonight.
‘This really has been such an amazing journey for Harvey and myself, and I want to continue the conversation surrounding the difficulties that parents of children with complex needs face, and help parents going through a similar situation. Thank you all so much x.’
Thank you: Tweeting after the show aired, Katie thanked programme makers as well as the public for their support and positive feedback
This week Katie revealed Harvey is living in his own three-bedroom house with CCTV cameras across the road from her to prepare him for ‘independent living’.
The television personality said that their current set-up is to help Harvey become accustomed to living out of home so he doesn’t think that she has ‘sent him away’.
Mother-of-five Katie told US Weekly that the teenager now has his own three-bedroom home across the road from her Surrey home to transition him into living away from home.
‘I’ve got him his own little house at the minute. It’s opposite where we live. It’s got all cameras in it,’ she said.
Independent: This week Katie revealed Harvey is living in his own three-bedroom house with CCTV cameras across the road from her to prepare him for ‘independent living’
‘So either I’m here or there’s a carer who’s known him for seven years from school. He’s got his own kitchen. It’s a three-bedroom house, so that’s the start of his independent living.
‘I’m doing it slowly for him. Otherwise I don’t want him to think I’ve just sent him away. It’s transitional.’
Katie believes the move is vital for Harvey’s well-being because she can no longer restrain the at 6ft2in and 29 stone teen if he has a mood swing – and fears he could be sectioned if she doesn’t act now.
New start: The television personality said the current set-up is to help Harvey become accustomed to living out of home so he doesn’t think that she has ‘sent him away’ when he starts at his residential college in September
Katie revealed Harvey is excited about the prospect of going into a full-time college, after previously going to a residential college five days a week.
‘He knows now he’s 19 he’s going to a college,’ said Katie. ‘He’s more excited about what his room’s going to look like and if it’s got a kitchen cause he probably thinks I’m going to fill it up with lots of stuff – which I won’t be!’
‘I’m doing it that way for him because I want him to be happy and if he’s not happy, I’m not happy.’