BOTCHED HOMES host and general contractor Charlie Kawas usually solves construction problems on the job site, but cancer treatment left him trying to keep renovations moving from a chemotherapy chair.
“I call myself a professional problem solver,” said Kawas of his hands-on approach in a TV Insider interview.
The husband and father of two was six months into production on his first HGTV season when doctors diagnosed testicular cancer. His family, clients and production team were stunned, he recalled, and everyone offered to pause while he focused on his health.
Kawas decided to keep working and include the treatment journey in the series. He said he still felt responsible for helping homeowners get back into safe, finished spaces, even as his own circumstances changed.
That decision meant learning to lead differently. Kawas told TV Insider that he often carried designs and solutions in his head; without him on site, answering his crew’s questions over the phone became a challenge.
He described pain, exhaustion and low energy during treatment, along with occasional returns to the job when he felt able. Sometimes he needed to sit on a bucket because he felt dizzy or lightheaded.
His account does not make those days sound easy. The contractor who loved doing the heavy lifting had to accept that completing the projects would require more help from the people around him.
“And I had to learn to rely on my amazing crew,” Kawas told Monument.
Viewers saw the start of his chemotherapy journey in the Oct. 7 episode. According to PEOPLE, Kawas said that after four rounds of treatment and a follow-up PET scan, his oncology team found no evidence of active cancer.
“We got a lot of positive feedback like, ‘God bless you.’ ‘Hope you get through this.’ ‘Glad you’re in remission. We love this show.’ ‘Can’t wait for you to get back in action.’ There’s so much positivity coming from this,” he said of the response from sharing his story.
He reported being in remission and thanked his wife, Pierra, daughters Charli and Cami, crew and medical team. In the newer TV Insider conversation, he said his hair was growing back, he had regained some weight and he was preparing to return to his how-to videos.
“I like to teach the next generation because that’s what’s very important to me,” he emphasized.
Kawas wants young people who do not attend college to see possibilities in the trades. His own construction career began at 15, according to Monument’s series announcement, which described his Brooklyn upbringing and training alongside New York carpenters.
On BOTCHED HOMES, he teams with Miami designer Courtney Ibars to fix poor craftsmanship, awkward layouts and unsuccessful do-it-yourself projects in South Florida. Kawas told TV Insider that the crew’s laughter and camaraderie can make a workday feel like time with friends.
He also teased a meaningful family moment in the eighth episode, scheduled for Oct. 21, without revealing the news in detail. After the difficult months behind them, he said the family had reached a brighter point in the journey.
For now, Kawas is looking forward to more jobs and more teaching, while acknowledging that some back and neck discomfort remains. BOTCHED HOMES airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. CT on HGTV, with episodes streaming the next day on HBO Max.
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