Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

So there's this US show called "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". A team of designers descends on the house of a deserving family and transforms it inside 7 days, with the aid of over 150 workers. It's a gobsmacking show. Sort of like Challenge Anneka but on a larger scale and for families rather than community projects.

Now, before I go on, I'm aware that there have been two lawsuits filed against the show already (it's in its second season now) both from earlier shows where the family feels one or two things weren't done to specifications and stuff doesn't work. I have no idea how those lawsuits are progressing. Also, I've heard families who get the makeover might end up with a huge tax bill because of all the new stuff and increase in property value but that won't come to fruition until later this year I think. ABC reckon they've done their homework and have worked around the various laws but we'll see. I mention this to make it clear I'm not buying the whole sugar-coated pill here.

But damn. They had a show today that made me blub like a baby.

Mother and Father are both deaf. The eldest son, 14, is fine. The younger son, Lance, who looked to be about 8, is not only autistic but also blind. (When they pick deserving families they really don't mess about.) The 14 year old is more adult than he should be because a lot of responsibility falls on his shoulders. Watching him with his younger brother was just awesome, he was so patient, he communicated with him, calmed him down. Just awesome.

So the Extreme Makeover team moved in. They totalled the house and the contracting crew rebuilt it, virtually, in about 5 days. They knocked down some walls in the ground floor part of the house, opening it up so that the family can always see/hear each other easily. So now they have an open plan lounge, kitchen and dining room, all fitted out with state of the art equipment and luxury furniture. Everything in the kitchen was labelled in Braille so Lance could always find what he needs.

They remodelled the master bedroom, giving them an en suite luxury bathroom and an additional wash room for a washer/dryer, so the Mum no longer has to lug laundry up and down from the basement. In addition they fitted some state of the art cameras and security. The cameras let them keep an eye on Lance in his room at night. Plus his pyjamas now have high-tech trackers sewn into them, because he's a bit of an escape artist. Now if he tries to get out of his room at night or even out of the house, a white light will flash (several of these light panels are scattered through the house) and, in case this happens at night, the parent's bed will shake to wake them up. Likewise if there's a fire: a red light will flash in warning.

Certain rooms in the house have passcode security so that Lance can be prevented from going into rooms where he shouldn't wander or it will be dangerous for him without supervision.

Lance's bedroom was filled with textures and musical instruments (he's pretty gifted) and it was all neatly organised so he can find his way around safely. He was a bit traumatised by all the changes but his brother calmed him down.

Then the basement was totally remodelled. It was gutted and part of it converted to a superb play room for Lance. I mean, it was AWESOME. They'd called in Lance's teachers and other experts and there was a whole range of things he can touch, climb on safely, swing. They created a Braille library of books for him to read, set up a Braille computer connected to his Mom's computer so she can talk to him anywhere in the house. Oh, and before I forget, they've set up monitors for voice/visual communication throughout the house so that the family can communicate :)

Then they showed Stefan his new bedroom. Woah. Last year he got to go to Australia and he was totally bowled over by it. So they decorated his room entirely in an Aussie theme, with a mural of Ayre's Rock behind his bedhead, which was lit to make it look like it glows at night :) He was just stunned speechless. It was a superb room, with space for him, computers, tv, easy chairs. A place he can hang out with his friends. *starts to sniffle*

Then they took them outside. Lance was still a bit freaked, but they'd rebuilt one thing he really loved - his swing. They put in this HUGE new swing set and the minute he got on that swing, his whole face lit up, he laughed, he smiled, he clapped his hands as he swung higher and higher. *blubs*

And then Dad saw his new state of the art tool shed. Tough guy, not given to being emotional, according to Stefan. Well he blubbed like a baby when he saw that shed, just totally overwhelmed by it all.. *waaaah*

But what really broke me up was the biggest thing of all. They'd got in touch with Marlee Matlin, the deaf actress, and she'd made some phone calls on Stefan's behalf. Right at the end, a chap from a charitable foundation walked into the yard bearing a cheque for a $50,000 scholarship so that Stefan will be able to go to college.

*bawls, honks into a tissue*

I haven't blubbed at a show like that in, dang, forever.

I'm such a sap :P