Extreme MakeOver Home Edition in Holt, MI on Tonight! 11-30-08

Ty Pennington and the Extreme MakeOver Home Edition worked their magic in my community Holt, Michigan. As a matter of fact, the location is just down the road from me.

The family was the Nickless's

Tim and Arlene Nickless bought an 1860s-era house in Holt, hoping to fix it up for their family, but it wasn't meant to be. Arlene lost her husband, a nurse, in January after a seven-year battle with hepatitis C. Tim contracted the disease after being pricked with a patent's contaminated needle. Arlene was left in need of emotional and financial support and with a house that was worsening in condition. Detroit Free Press

And Arlene was left a widow with three young sons to raise.

SIDEBAR: I have a very dear friend with Hepatitis C. Although most people have heard of it, very few people know much about the virus. Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver and affects approximately 4 million or 2% of Americans, and more than 100 million persons worldwide. It is called a "silent killer" because often there are no symptoms, you may have it for years before a blood test reveals it. However some people experience flu-like symptoms There is no vaccine for Hep C and current treatment is a combo of drugs taken over months that is chemo-like in its effect. The University of Michigan has a national and international renown state-of-the-art care and a cutting edge research program for Hep C. Diet also plays a role in management and can aid the health of the liver and prevent further damage. Hep C is spread by contact with an infected person's blood.

You could get hepatitis C by:

Sharing drug needles. (even years ago)

Getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it Hospital workers can get hepatitis C this way, this is how Tim Nickless contracted Hep C

Having sex with an infected person, especially if you or your partner has other sexually transmitted diseases

Being born to a mother with hepatitis C

If you had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992

In rare cases, getting a tattoo or body piercing with
unsterilized, dirty tools

If you fit in any of these categories, even if it has been years since you were a drug user, you need to get a Hep C blood test done by your doctor ASAP.

BACK TO Extreme Makeover in Holt

After Ty Pennington send Arlene and her sons on vacation to Disney Land, local contractors begin the demolition of the 1860s farmhouse. Then the construction by Mayberry Homes. of a new 3,300 square-foot home in a mere 106 hours!

And it is true, a small army of local people, 1,500 volunteers, work around the clock building, and furnishing the house. My niece volunteered and her shift started at midnight. Large floodlights kept the site well-lit.

As the home was being constructed Dean Transportation ran buses from K-Mart to the site so local folks could get a look at the home being built.

I decided to take the trip myself. The atmosphere at the site was carnival-like. Local radio stations were there. Extreme Makeover had a tent selling their gear, and kids played, groups of folks milling around talking,taking pictures and movies (yes I took some but you have to watch tonight to see for yourself!) as we watched the the activity of the home being built.

And now the home is built, the Nickless family has moved in and we can watch, not just the home being built but a wonderful story of a community helping one of their own.

Mayberry Homes is hosting a special viewing tonight for the community at the Breslin Center on the MSU Campus. A “Thank you mid Michigan! An Extreme Celebration” event to thank the volunteers and contractors who donated their time to the five-day project.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Entertainment, including Three Men and a Tenor, and giveaways will be provided throughout the night. Admission and parking is free and concessions available.

For the those not living in the Greater Lansing Area, Extreme MakeOver Home Edition, Holt, Michigan can be seen on ABC, this Sunday, Nov. 30th 8pm/7central.