Cara Brookins deserves an award for what she achieved after escaping an abusive relationship with her four children.

 

The mum and author has made headlines around the world, after sharing the story of how she built her own house using only YouTube tutorials - and her bare hands.

 

In 2008, Cara was coming out of two bad marriages and was in serious debt. However, she needed a home for herself and her four children, whose ages then ranged from two to 17.

 

 

A photo posted by Cara Brookins (@carabrookins) on

 

The Arkansas woman, who wrote YA novels for a living, knew she could not afford to pay a team of builders to put the house up.

 

She told local news outlet KTLA: “Things can get a little expensive when you are escaping an abusive relationship and have four children.”

 

So, Cara did some research and totted up how much money she would need to build her own home; it came to $130,000.

 

 

Luckily, Cara had a small property that she was able to sell, to fund her own building project. Once that was sold, Cara invested in an acre of land, and it was all hands on deck.

 

Starting in 2008, Cara and her children began building their home, using YouTube tutorials.

 

Cara bought all of the tools needed, drew up her own blueprints, mixed her own cement, laid pipes, and constructed frames.

 

 

A photo posted by Cara Brookins (@carabrookins) on

 

When she could afford it, Cara paid a friend with building experience $25 an hour to help out.

 

Incredibly, the house was ready in nine months, and she and children Drew, Hope, Hada and Roman moved in on March 31, 2009.

 

The five-bedroom house stands at 3,500-square-feet, and has been named Inkwell Manor.

 

 

While she never anticipated such a project, Cara went on to write about her experience in a book entitled Rise: How a House Built a Family.

 

With her story now blowing up online, Cara has this advice to share from her amazing tale: “Never think of your situation as a solo journey. You can heal and grow together with your family.”

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