Hoarder Comes Out From The Clutter, Embraces Clean Sweep

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) — Living underneath boxes, trash and her own belongings for decades, a self-admitted hoarder says she is ready for a change.

Lila Reed, 69, of Dallas says she was motivated to finally tackle her hoarding disorder and clean up her home by a wish to one day have her grandchildren visit her at home.

"They've never been in my home. I have never had them once spend the night with me," says Reed.

The grandmother made the decision to begin de-cluttering recently and solicited the help of professional organizer Tammy O'Neil from "Sorted Out" and psychologist Dr. Peggy McMahon.

"She is owning it and that's the whole concept of this. That she owns it," says O'Neil about Reed's resolve to take a hold of the issue.

Reed said she comes from a family of hoarders. Her psychologist believes that could explain why Reed has also been stricken by the disorder.

"The science is trying to determine if hoarding is hereditary," says Dr. McMahon.

This Saturday a full decluttering is expected to take place, and Reed says she is ready for it for the first time in decades.

"I don't own it. It owns me and I want to be free," she says about the disorder, adding "I am no longer running away from it, which is what I was doing."

Reed is going public with her story in hopes of inspiring others dealing with the same problem to do the same.

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