ABC has chosen a Foothills family for an upcoming episode of the television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
Michael and Kathleen Bell and their family found out they were selected just before 9 a.m. this morning when star Ty Pennington and the show’s designers showed up at their home at 4630 N. Paseo Aquimuri, near North Craycroft Road and East Territory Drive, to do their trademark surprise “knock.”
Access into the the Sunrise Presidio Village neighborhood is being restricted by Pima County Sheriff’s Deputies who will provide scurity for the project throughout the week. North Paseo Aquimuri is closed to all but residents who live there.
The Bells’ home will be torn down starting Thursday and replaced with a new one, which will be built around the clock over a 106-hour period.
More than 1,000 people will be volunteering to help build the home and provide support services during the construction project.
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The Bells' 14-year-old daughter, Lizzie , suffers from a rare blood disorder that requires her to get blood transfusions every few weeks, said Jim Roden, senior pastor at the First Evangelical Free Church at 4700 N. Swan Road.
“This has been a life-changing illness for them,” said Roden, who has known the Bells for three years since they started attending service at his church. “Lizzie is such a precious little girl.”
Roden said the Bells provided support to his family after his 6-year-old son Timothy was diagnosed with epilepsy.
“They've ministered their minister,” Roden said.
The Bells were nominated for the show by Lynda Langlois, a single mother of a special needs child who said Kathleen Bell provided support to her while Langlois was going through legal issues a few years ago.
“She's always been there for me,” Langlois said of Kathleen. “She's the kind of person you call and say, this is what's happening and she's like “oh, here's A, B and C. She's a brainstormer.”
Langlois said the Bells' home, while it appears very nice from the outside, is falling apart on the inside. There are cracks in the foundation, and black mold has been found throughout the house, she said.
“Their house is a shell,” Langlois said. “You walk in and it looks like a demolition zone.”
When she heard the Bells had been picked Tuesday morning, Langlois said she was overwhelmed with happiness. She broke down in tears after walking over to the south end of Paseo Aquimuri.
“The Bell family is one of those families that doesn't look for resources for themselves,” Langlois said. “Their priority is about helping other families.”
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