She Was Renovating Her Dream House in Chicago With Her Dad. Then Her Worst Nightmare Came to Life
He made sure she could continue the project without him.
Bridget McGing (@bridge.at.home) bought her dream home in Chicago in 2023. Her father, who had spent his life in construction, agreed to help her with the renovation and repairs. But a few months into the project, McGing’s worst nightmare came true.
“In March 2023, I bought this charming house on the north side of Chicago, with the best bones that needed a little extra love,” McGing shared on TikTok. Her father had retired from construction. Nevertheless, he was more than willing to help his daughter with the repairs for her new home. She added that one of the home’s main selling points was the empty attic, with potential to increase the space and value of her home.
“In October, we got to work on bringing my vision to life. On my days off work, Dad worked at my speed so that I could help with every step of the way,” McGing shared. He taught her how to use power tools like drills and saws. With his decades of experience, he also taught her techniques—how to cut, measure, and level.
“Not only was he my general contractor—he became the ultimate TikTok producer, recommending different shots and providing commentary while he filmed me,” she added. The father-daughter duo had hours of footage in the attic. They cruised through the project, hammering, repairing, and eventually, McGing’s vision began taking shape. But her plans were put on hold on March 4, 2024, nearly a year after she purchased her home.
“My dad was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. We went from spending hours in the attic to spending hours in the hospital, trying our best to save him,” McGing said. It’s a life-changing diagnosis that can derail someone’s life, as one woman from Oklahoma shared after one fateful emergency room trip.
Her dad passed before he could see the project through
“Despite the best efforts of his medical team and all of the might he had, my dad passed from glioblastoma on June 23rd, 2024,” she stated. He battled cancer for four months and passed away. Nevertheless, McGing continued the project they started, even as her worst fear came to life.
“I feared what would happen if my dad wasn’t here to help me finish the house. But the thing about my dad is that from a young age, he always taught us that if he weren’t here tomorrow, that he would want us to keep living our lives,” McGing claimed. Additionally, she has also received encouragement and support to help her push through with repairing her attic. Friends and loved ones also rushed in with their expertise to help McGing with the attic. While they could not replace her father’s presence, her community of people stepped up. Soon after, they helped her get the job done.
“With their help, the electric and plumbing were installed, and an inspection was done, and I was ready for insulation,” she stated. At the time she posted the video, she was already prepping for the drywall. But still, she felt sentimental about finishing the project.
“I feared that hanging insulation and drywall would feel like closing up my memories because the last time he was up here, it was only framing,” McGing claimed. But she said that when the insulators came, she heard unexplained footsteps from the attic.
“I like to think that it was him doing one final inspection. So, thanks, Dad, for helping me get this far,” McGing ended. When she finished the attic, it transformed into a cozy nook with stunning French doors and a couch area—a charming space her father would have been proud to see.
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