Meet the St. Louis ‘Extreme Makeover Home Edition’ family
The St. Louisans chosen for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” are Dawn and Emmanuel Martirez of Shrewsbury. (Pictured: the scene this morning on the Martirez’ street, as photographed by a neighbor.)
Dawn is a pediatric cancer nurse. They have a daughter, Elle, and twin boys, Evan and Alec. According to the information released this morning:
“Evan has an extremely rare genetic condition called 9P minus, and Alec has another uncommon genetic disorder known as Crouzon Syndrome…. Both twins suffer from skeletal abnormalities that require extensive corrective facial and cranial surgeries, with Evan having physical handicaps and mental retardation and Alec being profoundly hearing impaired.”
Dawn Martirez had to give up her job to take care of the twins full time.
“As the boys get older, the home’s cramped narrow hallways, steep stairs, crumbling driveway and single, handicapped inaccessible bathroom are posing great problems for them and slowing their development. Now it is up to Ty (Pennington) and his designers to equip the Martirez’s home to accommodate the twins’ special needs.”
The “EMHE” team (including designers Paige Hemmis, Ed Sanders, Eduardo Xol and John Littlefield) will work with local builders Callier Thompson Shea Construction & Design LLC and Consolidated Construction Group Inc., plus hundreds of volunteers and workers. During the process, the Martirez family will go on vacation to Disney World.
Reply to “City”:
What goes around comes around and you should be ashamed! I hope this family gets everything they have ever dreamed of.
Congratulations! We are very excited for all of you! We’ll miss you at soccer, but we know you’ll be having fun w/ Mickey & the gang!:) See you when you get back!
Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. So is Extreme Makeover Home Edition! In both cases, companies donate materials and volunteers work. EMHE differs in that the companies providing materials and manpower are publicly acknowledged - they get great PR for their great deed. So what? ABC does get good ratings, but that proves that viewers want to see ‘Feel Good’ TV in addition to sex and violence. What is wrong with that? Like other families of EMHE, the Martirez family will inspire and touch the hearts of millions. God bless them!
The post from City shows me there are miserbale jealous people here. That was insensitive and moronic. Of course this person didnt have the guts to put a name down. I feel sorry for you.
In response to “zinc”… For some people, it probably isn’t much of a “decision,” and unlike what you may think, Evan and Alec should not be consider a “hardship.” They are a great family, and amazing kids, and are stronger than you probably will ever have to be in your whole life. If only you had the great pleasure of meeting the Martirez family, you would think twice about making comments like that, and also would learn what a great sense of family is.
Yes, there are always going to be other families in need of help, but believe me, this family is more that deserving, and couldn’t be more appreciative! Congrats Martirez family!! We look forward to seeing you when you get back!
City have the guts to use your name or are you ashamed to. Most people like you hide behind anonimity
Scott said “This is a great show. It’s nice to see Hollywood’s Christian side for a change.”
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This has nothing to do with whether or not one believes in an invisible sky friend. It has to do with helping others. As a whole, atheists are much more moral people than those who believe in sky fairies.
To Zink -
What gives you the right to say that her twins life is less important or should have been terminated because they are disabled? Or that this family is less deserving then another family because their children have specail needs? Are you perfect? No need to answer that as the I already know the answer. As a Mom I can tell you that if one of my children were disabled i would have still had them. All human life is of value!
To the Martirez - Good Luck! May God Bless you and your new home!
Zink,
Next May, you should seriously consider presenting your mom with a Mother’s Day card that says “Thank you for not aborting me.” I’m not so sure she would have been as humane as the Martirez family is prenatal tests could prove what a selfish and ignorant loser you’d turn out to be. Her decision to conceive you has certainly taken a greater toll on society than the birth of those innocent twins.
My name is Christine, if you must know. But that’s not germane to the discussion, so let’s not get off-topic.