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."
