Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - Season 8

Ty Pennington and his design team, including new designers Xzibit and Jillian Harris, traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to surprise the students of Boys Hope/Girls Hope in a unique way and reveal to them that their lives were about to change. For the first time in the history of the show, the recipients were surprised on live television when the "EM: HE" team greeted the students with the good news. Another first in the show's 170-plus episode history came unannounced, courtesy of Mother Nature, when an epic rainstorm threatened to knock the 11,000 square foot build off its strict seven-day schedule. Adding to the excitement, drama and fun of the build was the participation of the kids from the Emmy Award-winning comedy "Modern Family" (Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriquez), actress Raven-Symon, basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal and music sensation Katy Perry.

Grace and John Lutz were a loving couple who were unable to have children of their own. They gave their hearts to many children, including several with Down Syndrome. After the couple passed away, their daughter, Kathleen, gave up her career and gladly came home to take care of six Down siblings who currently range in age from 20 to 25 years old. Everyone agreed that putting the kids in a group home or institution was not an option. Kathleen's brother, John Jr., willingly sacrificed his successful career as a gymnastics coach to move home, and the two of them are now a team who care for their siblings. Nothing can dampen the spirits of this cheerful group. They love to sing and dance, cook and play games together. But the crumbling condition of their 40-year-old home has become a concern. The Down siblings will not grow up and move away, they will not marry or drive cars; they need their home to be a safe permanent one, with everything to accommodate their special needs.

Eight years ago, Rhex Arboleda came to this country from the Philippines in pursuit of the American dream. The "EM:HE" team paired up with "Dancing with the Stars" to give Rhex that and more when he answered the most extraordinary wake-up call of his life. Brimming with excitement, Rhex, a hometown hero, his wife, Claire, and their five children -- CJ, Clarenx, Calix, Cullen and Rhex -- emerged from their home to find their favorite designers and dancers ready to literally bring down the house.

Trisha Urban of Hamburg, Pennsylvania suffered a terrible tragedy with the untimely death of her husband. Now she and her one-year-old daughter have an opportunity to turn the page on their past and open a new chapter in their lives in a home built on a foundation of joy, innocence and whimsy. By drawing upon classic fairy tales and rhymes, the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team rebuilt their crumbling, 300-year-old log cabin and farm and transformed it into the dream home that Trisha and her late husband, Andy, had once hoped for. Celebrity volunteer and supermodel Christie Brinkley helped in the build and participated in a fundraiser at an American Heart Association event honoring Trisha's husband.

The students at Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) in Salem, Oregon, are well known for their spine tingling annual Halloween haunted house fundraiser -- dubbed the 'Nightmare Factory.' The event, held in the basement of the boys' dormitory, goes a long way toward generating much-needed income for the 140-year-old financially-strapped school, a place which students consider their second home. But the 12,000 square foot basement where the Nightmare Factory is usually held has become frightfully unsafe. In just seven days, The "EM:HE" design team had to make the OSD basement safe again and trick it out in a scary and spook-tacular way.

When the 2,000 square foot home of a single mother of nine caught fire in Pocatello, Idaho, breast cancer survivor Jane Marshall and her children were awakened by Betsy, the family dog. Thanks to Betsy, everyone was able to get out safely. To celebrate the Marshall-Spreier family's enduring human spirit in the face of difficulty, Ty and the "EM:HE" design team not only built them a new house in just seven days, but also found ways for some of Betsy's dog brethren to get involved in the transformation of this music-loving family's home. While designer Paul DiMeo played piano with a full symphony orchestra, team leader Ty Pennington orchestrated ten dogs to bring down the family's devastated house, including Molly, a dog who actually operated an excavator!

With their sights set on "The Volunteer State," the Extreme Team returned to Nashville, Tennessee, inspired by the state that lives by the standard of neighbor helping neighbor. Devastated by the 500-year flood on May 1st of this year, one image continues to endure: News stations across the country featured footage of a school building floating down the interstate. What people didn't know was that the Sweatt family had been running the school since 2003. Despite the extensive damage to their own facility, Brian and his wife, Barbara, spearheaded recovery efforts and have helped over 200 families to date. On September 10th, the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" designers teamed up with some of country music's brightest stars to take the bull by the horns and deliver a new school to some deserving students.

Andre and Jasmine Anderson have never allowed their visual impairment to slow them down, but rather have faced it head on, and established the Disability Awareness Center in Maple Heights, Ohio, to help others who are struggling with sight loss. The couple and their sons learned they would be recipients of a home makeover while aboard the public bus that they ride every day. The "EM: HE" team surprised them on the bus and revealed plans to give them a new "smart" home, equipped with technologies that support people with disabilities.

The holidays get into full swing when international superstar Mariah Carey helps the "EM: HE" team create a Winter Wonderland in Pensacola, Florida for Finis Gaston and his niece and two nephews. The spirit of giving is all around, from the moment Mariah Carey steps off the "EM: HE" bus to give this deserving family the surprise of a lifetime to the snowy reveal as Christmas parade revelers dance to her new holiday hit, "Oh Santa!," and volunteers and the community welcome the family to their festively-decorated new home.

The inspiring 10-year-old, wheelchair bound Garrett Grommesh from Moorhead, Minnesota is ecstatic when he finds out that Ty and the design team will be giving his family a new home that will be handicapped accessible. Since their old home is in good enough shape for another family to live in, Garret asks if he could pay forward his good fortune so that his classmate, Arlinda Hajdari, and her family could receive their former home. The challenge is on, as the "EM: HE" team, builders and volunteers work twice as hard to get not one but two homes move-in ready in just seven days.

The nature loving Lampe family's tree service business has been hit hard by a series of unfortunate circumstances and on-the-job injuries, forcing them to slow their pace and turn down work. In spite of it all, Jeff and Shelley Lampe power through each day to keep the family afloat. They converted their garage into a makeshift wrestling gym to train and mentor young people in their community. The Lampe children, ranging in ages from 4 to 17, have outgrown the dilapidated house, and youngest daughter Angela, who has Down syndrome, needs a safe haven and a place to play all her own. It's time for someone to step in and focus on the family's problem-ridden house so that the Lampes can focus on reigniting their sense of adventure.

The Simpson family from Savannah, Georgia receive a new home that will be a better living environment their two-year-old son, Zoe, who was born with a life-threatening illness. Zoe confounded medical experts when he fully recovered, and he continues to grow and thrive. Volunteer participants include celebrity chef Paula Deen and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White.

Girl Power reigns when the "EM:HE" design team builds both a new home for a family who volunteer and chaperone for the Girls Scouts of the USA, as well as a cedar log cabin at Camp Tanglewood, a Girl Scout camp in Martinez, Georgia. In appreciation, design team leader Ty Pennington was made an honorary Girl Scout!

Joe, a pilot and the tireless founder of Air Mobile Ministries, and his wife, Cindy, a former nurse, have been on a quest to provide clean water to a thirsty world. They have accomplished this by spearheading efforts to install life-giving water purifiers in disaster ravaged and often dangerous areas around the globe. Joe and Cindy had been passionate about helping Haiti years before the devastating 2010 earthquake. They adopted two orphans from the country, Dieunika, when she was two years old, and Juliet, who was adopted when she was three years old. Twelve-year-old Peter, who shares his father's passion for flying, has participated in missions to deliver water purifiers.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" traveled to Fort Hood, Texas a year after tragedy struck the base to deliver a fresh start to one lucky couple. On November 5, 2009, a gunman fired more than 100 rounds at soldiers and civilians on base. In the aftermath, 13 people were left dead and 32 others were wounded. Among those caught in the crossfire - Patrick Zeigler, a soldier who had only returned from Iraq two weeks prior. On that ill-fated day, Zeigler was hit four times, with a near fatal gunshot to the head. Patrick's life was forever changed. Upon hearing of his tragedy, fiancée Jessica Hansen put her college degree on hold in order to be by Patrick's side and to aid in his recovery. Now the couple will discover that love conquers all.

Nearly one year ago, a tragic turn of events changed the Hall family of Wichita, Kansas forever. A car accident left dad Carl paralyzed from the shoulders down. As a result, life would change dramatically for everyone in this active family of six. Having thrived in a fast-paced family lifestyle that included everything from running carpools to coaching baseball teams, Carl and his high school sweetheart, Stacey, found themselves facing the biggest challenge of their lives. But on February, 17 the Hall family were ambushed by the Extreme Team, and now the Halls are poised for the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" invited the Marines to fall in for a call to action in Beaufort, South Carolina to honor Marine Staff Sergeant Bill Dickinson's family with a new home. Bill was deployed to Afghanistan on November 5, leaving behind his loving wife, India, and five children, who are fighting a losing battle here at home to save their house -- a scenario far too common for many military families across the nation. In Bill's absence, their home is rapidly depreciating due to spreading mold and water damage. Despite the deplorable conditions, the family maintain and model their lives in the same way their father honors his country. India volunteers on behalf of a military support group, and the oldest children, Grant and Brianna, both plan to enlist in the Navy after they graduate from high school. Volunteers and local military will be on hand to lend their efforts and some good old fashioned elbow grease to the Dickinson family.

For the past 25 years, Carrie has been more than just a high school varsity volleyball coach; she has become a beloved member of her community by serving as a mentor, counselor, confidante and sometimes a second mom to some of her students. Two years ago, that mothering role became real when the parents of Ashley, Taylor and Gina Brewer passed away and there was the possibility that the girls might have to split up. Without hesitation, Carrie agreed to take into her home not just volleyball player Ashley, but also her two younger sisters. Carrie offered them all a secure home life, and is now their permanent guardian. But her small, run-down house does not properly accommodate them, and its crumbling walls make it unsafe, especially during hurricane season.

The energetic and lively 9-year-old Patrick Sharrock from Rossville, Georgia manages to inspire everyone he's around. His positive attitude is even more remarkable because of his rare genetic condition, commonly known as brittle bone disease, where even the slightest bump could cause his bones to snap. The family's 50-year-old crumbling house is a major landmine for him. It's up to the "EM: HE" design team to build a safe environment that Patrick could call home in just seven days.