Another Family Helped Next Week on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition  5/29/07

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" REBUILDS THE HOME OF A FAMILY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND A SON WITH CEREBRAL PALSY Country Music star Tim Mc Graw Invites the Family to his Concert New Designer John Littlefield Joins the Team

"Bliven Family" -- Bill and Michelle Bliven, who have a son with cerebral palsy and started a baseball league for children with special needs, will receive a brand new and renovated home courtesy of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," airing SUNDAY, JUNE 3 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/15/06)

The Bliven family of Minot, North Dakota were told "Life's not Fair" by their doctor upon learning their second child, Aaron, had cerebral palsy. The Blivens, who also have another son and daughter, treat Aaron like a "normal" kid. Aaron and his younger brother even played on the same little league team... That is, until the recreation league decided Aaron's health was too much of a risk for the great American pastime. But instead of benching her young son, Michelle started a league of their own. "Dream Catchers" is a little league team made up entirely of children with special needs. Michelle received the "Hometown Hero" Award for her tireless efforts in creating an environment in which EVERY child is special.

Unfortunately, the family's modest house, bought almost 20 years ago, is no longer a safe haven for their growing son. At 14 Aaron has outgrown his small wheelchair, but his new chair is too large and can't fit through the hallways and some doorways; he must be carried from room to room. After suffering two heart attacks last year, Bill is physically unable to life his son now, which leaves the entire weight on Michelle's shoulders - and back, legs, arms. The bathroom is also too small to accommodate Aaron, so he must get dressed and be attended to in the living room, which includes changing his feeding tube and his underwear.

Life has given the Blivens lemons, and with those lemons they have made the sweetest lemonade possible. They've given back to their community and created a place where dreams become reality, smiles run abundant and kids with special needs can play baseball. Now the crew from "EMHE" will make a dream come true for the Blivens! In addition, Country Music star Tim Mc Graw meets the Blivens and invites them to his concert.

While the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team, Fargo-based builder Heritage Homes, and hundreds of workers and volunteers are transforming the Blivens' house into a dream home, the family will go on a Disney Cruise vacation.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature team leader Ty Pennington, and designers Eduardo Xol, Paul DiMeo, Paige Hemmis and new designer John Littlefield (see separate bio).

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its fourth season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

Source: ABC Press Release