Huber Family, Parts 1 & 2 When Howie and Jessica met, they each felt they'd found a true partner, someone who valued hard work and community involvement. They bought a dilapidated farmhouse, figuring that Howie could fix it up within a few years, as he used to work in construction. Although they were struggling financially, Jessica, a nursing student, encouraged Howie to pursue his lifelong dream of being a firefighter. Through long hours of hard work and with as many as five jobs between them, the Hubers were able to both pay off their debt and see Howie established as the most popular and most decorated firefighter in town. In the meantime, both Hubers did everything they could to repair the old house that was the only home they could afford. Unfortunately, they now know that it's far beyond their ability to repair. The two story farmhouse has a chimney separating from house, improperly installed windows and severe water damage throughout; the electrical, heat and sewage systems are unsafe; every time Howie goes to work, he fears that the next 911 call he intercepts might be about his own home. Now it's up to Ty and the gang to allay Howie's fear and fulfill his wish to have a home that's safe for their children. The Huber family went on vacation to the Disney Vacation club in Hawaii while the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team, local builder Builders Commonwealth, workers and volunteers transformed their home.
Hampton Family Chris and Niki didn't hesitate to open their hearts and home to young Gage, Kira, Lexi and Jacob, who now range in age from two to eight years old. Squeezing out the space for them, together with eleven-year-old son Dakota and eight-year-old daughter Hannah, has been the real challenge. Currently the three boys share one set of bunk beds in the dining room, and the three girls share another set of bunks in what used to be a utility closet. Since the cottage has no closets, plastic storage bins are stacked floor-to-ceiling in every room. Dinner is served assembly line-style, and everyone sits on the floor except for the youngest children in booster seats. What the family lacks in comfort and space, they more than make up for with love. The children are incredibly close literally and figuratively and Chris and Niki look forward to the day when they move beyond full legal custody of their nieces and nephews to become their adoptive parents. Chris, a land surveyor, basketball & football coach and president of the Missouri Family Rodeo Association (MFRA), and Niki, a saleswoman and MFRA secretary, also have rescued six horses that live on their five-acre farm along with three dogs.
Hill Family Known to local admirers as the "family choir," the 13 Hill family members William and Catherine along with their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews - have motivated friends and neighbors with their musical talents, academic achievements and selfless generosity. Cramped living conditions as well as sorely needed electrical, plumbing, roof and other repairs have continued to take a back seat to helping those in need and providing a good education for the children. Five of the Hill siblings and cousins living at home are college students, and the family also scrimp and save to provide medical treatment and care in their home for cousin Shamia, who received a kidney transplant from daughter Sonia. Growing up in the housing projects of Hartford, Connecticut, William and Catherine Hill both dreamed of a safe and happy home brimming with their passion for music and education. Hard work and persistence made their dream come true until the nightmare of a fire in 1993 damaged their small ranch house well beyond what insurance money could repair. It is now up to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to build the Hill family the home they truly deserve.
Marshall Family About two years ago, Carlton was shot in the neck while serving a narcotics search warrant. Severe spinal cord damage was immediate, followed by hearing loss and a stroke. Today rehabilitation has restored some of Carlton's mobility, but he is still primarily confined to a wheelchair. Health issues also affect the Marshalls' young daughter, Jessica, who began having seizures about a month after Carlton was so severely wounded. The Marshall family, which also includes a young son, Joseph, must cope with these health problems in a house where snakes have infested the walls, attic, wiring and plumbing. Furthermore, the foundation of the house is sinking, and the septic system backs up on their lawn. Despite their myriad difficulties, Carlton and Susan's big hearts remain open to others as supporters of the nonprofit program TROT, Therapeutic Riding of Texas. The Marshalls hope to modify their horse barn and stables to host TROT sessions, which would also be helpful to Carlton.
Montgomery Family Nathan was a promising young engineer on his way to a six-figure management position when he first began volunteering to help the needy. Realizing he wanted to pursue charity work full-time, he stepped off the fast track to launch Salt and Light, the philanthropic organization he leads as executive director. Nathan has seen the number of local families in need rise dramatically in the current economic crisis, and Salt and Light now feeds an average of 250 families each week. But the altruism of Nathan and Jenny, a middle school aide who works with special-needs children, has taken a heavy toll on the family's living conditions. Since both of them have modest salaries, they've been unable to afford much-needed repairs to their dilapidated two-story, 100-year-old home. The roof over their heads is falling apart, much of the siding is gone, and the brick foundation is crumbling, among other problems. The Montgomerys feared that they'd have to move out for safety reasons, and would no longer be able to continue their vital community service.
Mattingly Family Two years ago, Steve Mattingly was responding to a fire call at a neighborhood home, where he was asked to direct traffic around the site. Steve's wife, Melissa, was driving by the fire when disaster struck: Steve was hit full speed by a car that didn't see him. An EMT herself, Melissa immediately got out of her car and ran to her husband to give him care. Steve suffered multiple injuries, brain damage and amnesia. To date, he has had seven surgeries to try to repair the damage. Most of his problems with pain, balance and memory are irreparable, and he will probably never be able to work a full-time job again. Although Steve, 41, has regained his ability to walk and retains his humorous personality, his family knows his life has changed forever. They live in a small, 700-square-foot crumbling trailer, and Melissa, 38, is now the sole wage earner. They cannot afford to fix the home, which they also share with their growing daughters, Alana, 12, and Madison, 11. Now it's up to Ty and the gang to give this family who have endured such hardship some comfort in a peaceful new home.
Terpenning Family Crippled by polio during infancy and abandoned by his American G.I. father in Vietnam, James nevertheless considers himself one of the luckiest people in the world. He was supposed to be airlifted out of Vietnam on a military plane that crashed, killing all the children and aid workers aboard. Instead, he had safe passage, leading to a new life in America as an adopted son in an Ohio family. While growing up, James competed in wheelchair sports and later represented the U.S. at the Paralympics, where he earned both gold and silver medals. He continues to serve his country in civilian technical support for the Air Force and by helping disabled veterans. James also is a frequent speaker at schools, educating children and teens about living with special challenges.
Stott Family Thanks to a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor, Joey Stott miraculously survived leukemia and made a miraculous recovery. She and her family then pursued their dream of life on a self-sufficient organic farm that they'd fantasized about for years. But just as they'd made their dreams a reality, an electrical fire threatened to destroy them permanently: This past spring, Joey woke in the middle of the night to a series of electrical explosions that looked like a fireworks display. The farmhouse's ancient wiring was sparking and threatened the entire house. The fire department arrived quickly enough to save the structure, but warned that the same thing could happen again if the wiring weren't totally replaced. But the family can't afford to replace the home's wiring. Joey, 33, husband Philip, 45, and their three children, Kaila, 19, Jonathan, 16, and Michael, 15, are terrified that they'll have to leave the farm they love and abandon the dream they've fought so hard to realize. The Stotts are currently living in the house, despite the dangers. Now it's up to Ty and the designers to make the Stott home safe and to get the farm up and running again.
Marshall Family Six years ago, Jay and Elena Marshall bought the perfect home, one that they could live in forever because they could easily expand as their family grew. But before they had a chance to build their first addition, an onslaught of problems from carbon monoxide leaks to mold and rotting wood brought their dreams for the home to a halt. Before they could begin tackling the growing list of problems, their nine-year-old son, Cameron, was diagnosed with leukemia. Despite the mounting medical bills and the fear of having to leave their home due to the dangers it presents to Cameron's recovery, the Marshall family came together and rallied their community behind their son's "Be Positive" campaign. The "Be Positive" campaign, named after Cameron's blood type, has already brought in around $40,000 for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth and leukemia awareness, including $3,500 Cameron raised on his own. Now it's up to Ty and the designers to build Jay, 39, Elena, 40, Beau, 17, Olivia, 14, Kennedy, 11, Cameron, 9, Emilie, 8, Faith, 6, Rylie, 5 and Nina, 3, a safe and healthy home that will allow their family to continue to grow and the "Be Positive" campaign to flourish. While "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, Paige Hemmis and Eduardo Xol transform the Marshalls' new home, the family also gets to meet Patrick Dempsey ("Grey's Anatomy" is the family's favorite drama series), plus a blockbuster comedic star will deliver a special surprise gift and video check-in for the family to welcome them to their new home.
Scott Family Trina, 44, met her husband Dave while he was serving with U.S. Army Special Forces in Fort Bragg and it was love at first sight. After his discharge, Dave became a Clarksville police officer. In 2002, he and his partner were on duty when their police car was violently struck by a truck. The car spun out of control, hit a guardrail, caught fire and killed both Dave and his partner almost instantly. Overwhelmed with grief, Trina turned to a group called Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.), which helps the surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty. Inspired by the help she received from C.O.P.S., Trina devoted all of her free time to the organization and became its President in 2003. The time that Trina dedicates to C.O.P.S. represents essentially a full-time job, and that's on top of the full time job she works to support her three daughters - Leyla, 17, Deidie, 13, and Alethea, 11. Trina has spent more than $20,000 on the mounting repairs to her small home, but the structural problems caused by termites and water damage remain. The Scott Family went on vacation to Disneyland while "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, Paige Hemmis and John Littlefield, spearheaded the design efforts for their new home. Also of note for this episode, Usher lends a hand to Paige and John, working side by side to help make the new Scott family house a home; and the family gets to visit Selena Gomez on the set of "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Ward Family, Parts 1 & 2 Having experienced a childhood of hardship, Clara vowed to make a difference for the next generation, and neither modest means nor the challenges of Myostenio Gradi, a degenerative muscular disease, have stopped her so far. For decades Clara has put her personal needs second to feeding, clothing and nurturing children in her home, organizing charitable drives, arranging field trips, tutoring, giving cooking lessons and much more. But the rampant disrepair of her crumbling two-story home -- including a cracked foundation, a leaky roof, peeling walls and a faulty sewage line - increasingly threatens the life-long mission that means so much to her and the people in her neighborhood. Furthermore, the house lacks the wheelchair accessibility she needs, requiring her to stay with her daughter and head back and forth each day. The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Paul DiMeo and Paige Hemmis, plus Six-Time Grammy Award-winner Mary J. Blige helps the design team all week long and puts some personal touches on the new home.
Morris Family Sixteen years ago, Sandy was pregnant with her first child and working as an early childhood education teacher. After the birth of her daughter, Catricia, Sandy examined her daycare options and discovered that none of them met her standards. She decided to quit her job and start her own daycare in the community where she'd grown up. Because most high-quality daycares were too expensive for her neighbors, Sandy found ways to run her daycare at a lower cost and charges just enough to support herself and her family. She also offers a multicultural environment to these children, who affectionately call her "Tia Sandy." Sandy's dedication to her daycare and her community has produced one of the best daycares in the city; even the Mayor of St. Paul sent his son there. Now it's up to Ty and the designers to build Sandy, 40, her daughter Catricia, 15, and her son Mychal, 12, a safe home that is a sanctuary for their family and will enable the daycare to remain a center of community life and education. The Morris Family will go on Disney Cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, while "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team leader Ty Pennington, designers Ed Sanders, Tracy Hutson and Paul DiMeo, plus celebrity volunteers Sam Champion, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal, Gonzo and the entire Muppet gang and community volunteers rebuild their home.
Cowan Family At the age of five, Kori Cowan was diagnosed with a congenital blood disease affecting her immune system. Since then, her parents have made multiple trips every month to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where Kori meets with her doctors and receives intravenous blood infusions. Recently Kori started developing polyps in her nasal cavity and behind her eyes. She has already endured 17 operations as a result of these painful growths that have to be surgically removed. Doctors believe the polyps may be the result of environmental issues in the family's home, including an extreme mold infestation. Ryan, the oldest boy, has also fallen ill and gone to live with his biological father tearing this close-knit family apart. Despite the daily struggles Kori faces, she has not let her disease slow her down. During one of her stays at the blood clinic, she was inspired by a little girl with whom she shared a room and who remains one of her best friends. Kori has raised over $35,000 for the American Cancer Society in honor of her friend, all the while restricted to the upstairs portion of her deteriorating home. Now it's up to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to build Kori and her family a safe new home that will allow her to not just fight her own disease, but continue to fight cancer as well.
Powell Family, Parts 1 & 2 Twenty-two years ago, Delores Powell moved to the United States from Jamaica in search of the American dream. Making just $100 a week as a home health aide, she struggled to make ends meet. Delores worked hard to support herself and her growing family and became a U.S. citizen in May of 1999, but the accomplishment was overshadowed by the abusive nature of her relationship with her ex-husband. In 2002, after reaching her limit, Delores picked up her children and moved to Buffalo, NY, in search of affordable housing. They rented an apartment for a year before finding what they believed was the jackpot, a six bedroom "fixer upper." Unable to afford a lawyer, Delores struck a deal with the seller personally, but unfortunately the seller failed to disclose that the house was on the city's demolition list. Never one to give up, Delores begged the city for leniency and they agreed to waive the order if she could get the house up to code. Delores, 49, and her children Joel, 18, Gabrielle, 16, Deborah, 15, and Anschel, 10, began building scaffolding, hanging drywall, installing windows, and countless other repairs. But even after five and a half years of work, the family's home is unlivable. Delores' hard work and devotion doesn't stop at her front door. She is an activist with the grassroots, non-profit community organization "PUSH Buffalo," which works to rebuild and improve the West Side of Buffalo. Now it's up to Ty and the design team to build Delores and her family the strong, safe home that will support this family and their dreams.
Creasey Family Three years ago Tricia was diagnosed with colon cancer. A dedicated seventh grade teacher, she refused to stop teaching while undergoing the chemotherapy and major surgery her treatment required. In May of 2009, Tricia's cancer returned and spread to her lymph nodes. To prevent the cancer from spreading any further, Tricia receives weekly chemotherapy treatments that cost the family $1,400 a month after insurance. The Creaseys bought their home as a fixer-upper, but the necessary repairs and renovations have taken a back seat to Tricia's medical care. Numerous structural problems such as holes in the floor, walls and roof - where animals can get in -- cracks in the foundation, lack of insulation, and extensive water damage from a leaking roof create additional, everyday obstacles and hazards for Tricia and the entire family. In addition, the house has only one bathroom, which Tricia must often occupy for hours a time to take care of medical necessities. Now it's up to Ty and the gang to build William, 40, Tricia, 37, Brittany, 12, Makenzie, 5, and Makayla, 5, a new home that will not only be a safe place for Tricia to battle her cancer, but provide a place for family, friends and the community to gather and offer support.
Tripp Family, Parts 1 & 2 Over three decades ago, Tripp's father ran a bus ministry for the Woodland Baptist Church, hoping to make his rough neighborhood a better place. Now a generation later, Tripp and Tamara are continuing a family tradition of service and generosity. About 40 kids each week and over 90 children on holidays board the bus for fun and safe activities that have ranged from bowling on a Friday night to flower arranging for Mother's Day. Tripp, an electrician, and Tamara, a teacher's aide, serve as Bus captain and Project coordinator, respectively. More importantly, Tripp, 31, and Tamara, 30, have taken on the role of mentors to many of these children who sometimes look for a sympathetic ear outside the home. The Tripps give of themselves lovingly -- but their generosity literally has its costs. Since their church cannot afford to fund the activities available through the "Big Blue Bus," the Tripps pick up the tab. Earning only modest salaries from their regular jobs, Tripp and Tamara have little left over to repair the crumbling 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, one bathroom house they share with their young sons, Micah, 5, Ethan, 3 and Aaden, 9 months. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition travels to Prince George's County, MD with celebrity volunteer Tyler Perry -- to tell Nikema, aka "Tripp," and Tamara Tripp that their small house, in need of major repairs they can't afford, will be rebuilt in seven days. For the team, as well as for hundreds of local volunteers, it's a heartfelt opportunity to give back to a couple who have put the well-being of neighborhood kids ahead of their own living conditions.
Wagstaff Family Growing up in Gainesville, Jill Wagstaff always knew of the huge impact the arts had on the lives of her friends and family. In college she met Tobin, who shared her love of the arts, and they eventually married and had four beautiful children: Tobin James Jr., 7, Rudy, 6, Dallas, 5, and Larissa Jolene, 4. In 2002 the Wagstaffs started Studio Percussion, Inc., a non-profit music school and arts center specializing in the use of drums and percussion to encourage and inspire students towards community involvement and leadership development. The family runs this organization out of their home, in the space where Dallas and Larissa Jolene currently sleep. The studio currently serves about 200 people, half of whom receive financial aid. Their utter devotion to their family, their school, and their community leaves the Wagstaffs little time and few resources to tend to their dilapidated home. Now it's up to the "EM:HE" team and hundreds of local volunteers to build a safe, new home that will allow this family to continue to support the arts in the lives of their family and their entire community. There are also two other special surprises for the Wagstaff family: They fly to Tulsa, where KISS stopped as part of their KISS/Alive 35 tour. Together, the family and the band worked with Gibson and Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation to provide instruments for a local school, as well as the family's own non-profit music school in Florida. Additionally, artists and designers from Marvel Entertainment collaborated with the "EM:HE" team, providing artwork and merchandise to create a Super Hero-themed room for TJ, and created original art featuring TJ and several Marvel Super Heroes which will also be used as an actual cover for an upcoming Marvel comic book scheduled to go on sale April 14.
Skaggs Family In 2007 Brian and Audra were blessed with the birth of their second child, Jhett. Later that year they began to notice that something was very wrong with their infant son. He was lethargic, constantly crying, losing weight, and stopped breathing on two occasions, so that Brian and Audra had to perform CPR to save his life. After extensive tests, Brian and Audra were told that Jhett needed a heart transplant. Because he was so young and had already suffered multiple cardiac arrests, his chances of survival were very slim. Miraculously, an organ donor was found and, at just 10-month-old, Jhett received a new heart. Now two years later, Jhett runs and plays like any two-year-old boy, but he faces a lifetime of treatment. In addition to requiring numerous trips to Houston each month for check-ups, his daily regimen includes a series of medications and his weakened immune system leaves him very susceptible to mold, germs and illness. Jhett's new heart will last for up to 15 years, so Brian, 38, and Audra, 27, are doing what little they can to prepare for another transplant down the road. Unfortunately, Audra's income as a pre-school teacher, coupled with Brian's income as a cattle rancher, cannot cover the mounting medical bills and needed home repairs. Now it's up to the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team and hundreds of local volunteers to build a new home that will allow this family to take care of their son and do their best to prepare for his future.
Heathcock Family Heathcock, 39, and his wife Gina, 40, are working themselves ragged in order to afford the best education for their children Annie, 12, Gary, 10, and Tessa, 7. In addition to his work for the Army National Guard, Sherman works as a sheriff's deputy, a SWAT team leader, a grocery store security guard, a neighborhood watch group organizer, and volunteers his time to provide security for his kids' school and to coach his son's football and baseball teams, while Gina works part-time as a paralegal. During Sherman's first tour in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina sent several large trees crashing down on their property and onto their home. Adding insult to injury, while beginning to tackle the long list of repairs, Gina fell victim to a re-roofing scam. The rotting ceilings and damaged foundation are crumbling beneath them, and with Sherman currently serving in Iraq, his wife and kids are worried about losing the battle in their own home. The Heathcock family will go on vacation to Disney World while "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, John Littlefield and Paige Hemmis, celebrity volunteer Christian Slater and community volunteers rebuild their home. Celine Dion and the Jonas Brothers also make special guest appearances.
