Episode
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: The Bliven Family
Overview
In early April 2006, a massive F-3 tornado tore through firefighter Jerrod Hawkins' hometown of Henderson, TN. While Jerrod was on duty and could only watch the storm from his fire station, the tornado hit his home directly, ripping the house from its foundation. Amy heroically saved her sons, Jair and Cole, by lying on top of them in the basement. But unfortunately the bricks, debris and concrete that hit Amy caused permanent injuries -- her vertebrae and ribs were crushed, her lungs were punctured, and she sustained serious head trauma. After the tornado subsided, Amy and the boys were found under a pile of rubble by neighbors who called the fire station, where Jerrod had to instruct his neighbors how to give his own wife CPR.
Details
- Series
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- Season
- Season 4
- Episode
- Episode 5
- Air date
- 2006-10-15
- Runtime
- 60 min
Episode context
The Bliven Family is Episode 5 in Season 4 of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. It aired on 2006-10-15. The runtime is 60 min.
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Episode 4: The Hawkins Family
David Gilliam simultaneously worked several jobs to support his family in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter and EMT. He was one state test away from getting his instructor coordinator license when he suddenly died. As a result of her husband’s autopsy, Maryann learned that the basement of her family’s home was contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic spores. Her doctor advised the mother and her six children to vacate the house for health reasons. The community has rallied around the Gilliams; since David’s death, the family have lived with several family members, neighbors and friends. Currently they are living with Maryann’s sister.
Episode 6: The Kibe Family
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
More episodes from this season
Episode 3: The Gilliam Family
The large Rogers family are well-known in their community for their selfless attitudes and strong morals. All the children excel in everything they do, whether it's sports or academics. Betsy was raised in a bi-racial family, and later married into a bi-racial marriage; as a result, she strives to teach her family and community about diversity and respect for others. A well known and much respected figure throughout the community, Betsy is a team mother for both the football and wrestling teams and a second mom to most of the kids in the area. She has passed her selfless values on to her children; her two eldest sons, Christopher and Jonathan, went on a two-week mission trip in Honduras to help build homes for those who live in worse conditions than even they could imagine.
Episode 7: The Thibodeau Family
Tama County, IA. The Kibe family are given an extreme makeover.
Episode 2: The Rogers Family
The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team travels to Bergenfield, New Jersey to build a brand new renovated home in seven days for a deserving family of six who have overcome some difficult disabilities. In order to better meet the Llanes family's unique needs, Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin will serve as Team Leader.
Episode 8: The Farina Family
Brookings County, SD. The Thibodeau family are given an extreme makeover.
Episode 1: The Llanes Family
Episode 9: The Koepke Family
St. Meinrad, IN. The Farina family are given an extreme makeover.
Despite her success in amassing funds for breast cancer, the Farina family's dreams of fixing up the old farmhouse are no longer plausible due to Shawna's increasing medical bills. The house contains no insulation for the long and cold winters, has a make-shift shower in their single bathroom and is missing three doors to the bedrooms. Now, with the help of Ty and the design team of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Farina family will finally have a home they truly deserve, one in which Shawna can watch her children grow up, undefeated by her illness.
While Ty and the designers, local builder Kerstiens Homes & Designs of Jasper, IN and hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Farina family will go on vacation to Walt Disney World.
Episode 10: The Pauni Family
Campbellsport, WI. The Koepke family are given an extreme makeover.
Matt had dreams of renovating his home and finishing the renovations on the town Mill, but those plans were put on hold once he was diagnosed. He will be missed but never forgotten. Before Matt died, he had a chance to ask EMHE for one wish -- to take care of his family and give them the home they deserved.
While the Ty and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team, local builder Monarch Homes, contractors and hundreds of workers and volunteers remember Matt's dreams and work together to transform the Koepke house into a dream home in a remarkable seven days, the family will go on vacation to San Diego.
Episode 11: The Ripatti-Pearce Family
Logan, UT. The Pauni family are given an extreme makeover.
When Janet and Danny left the island of Tonga in 1991, it was to give their family a better life and a better education. Danny was the strong leader in this family and the glue that held them together. That's why it was as if a bomb had hit when he suddenly died in May of 2004 from a heart attack, leaving Janet a widowed mother of nine (eight children and one nephew living in the home). With no life insurance policy and the sole provider gone, this tight knit family has been struggling both emotionally and financially.
While the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team, local builder Kartchner Homes of Logan, Utah, and hundreds of workers and volunteers are transforming the Pauni's house into a dream home, the family will vacation in a private yacht in the British Virgin Islands.
Episode 12: The Fullerton-Machacek Family
Redondo Beach, CA. The Ripatti family are given an extreme makeover.
Husband and wife Tim and Kristina worked together as police officers in the gang division of the LAPD. They met on the job and are married, with baby daughter, Jordan. Despite the extreme dangers of their jobs, Kristina and Tim are both happy and proud to serve and protect their community. But just how dangerous their jobs could be became terrifyingly clear this past summer. One night Kristina and her partner followed a man who was acting suspiciously. When he started to run, they pursued him on foot. Kristina caught up to him, but then he shot her. Her partner in turn shot and killed the gang member and called for help. Over the radio Tim heard that an officer had been shot, and he immediately rushed to the scene to find his wife fighting for her life. Kristina survived the incident, but today is paralyzed from the chest down.
Episode 13: The Noyola Family
Lincoln, NE. The Fullerton-Machacek family are given an extreme makeover.
This loving family of seven love spending time together, but it's difficult since they still live separately. They split time between Kenny's cramped house and Theresa's even more cramped apartment. Kenny and Theresa want to be married and to finally be united under one roof, but the condition of Kenny's home has made it difficult to be sold. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home is over a hundred years old and unsafe. Currently the two basement walls are buckling, the refrigerator isn't working and there's a leak in their only bathroom that they cannot afford to fix