Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Extreme Makeover is apparently looking for a family in central NY to do a home makeover for. One of Mom's friends posted the article on one of her yahoo groups. They were asking for a e-mail about the family, instead of that agonizingly long and detailed application. So, I sent one in. Here it is, in all it's glory, without a few things I wish I would have added...

My name is Bonnie, I'm 24 years old and a widowed Mama of 3 children and 2 stepchildren, all under the age of 5 years. My husband Anthony passed away over one year ago of a subdural hematoma, a bleed in his brain, a week before his 30th birthday.

I met Anthony when I was just 18, and I knew the very first time that he kissed me that he was my forever love. For our first date, he packed a gorgeous picnic lunch, and we ate passion fruit and pineapple off gold-edged plates, relaxing in the shade of the willow trees by a lake. Just days later, we took a day trip to NYC to see David Letterman. Lost in NYC traffic, we were too late to see the show, but instead ended up in Central Park. We were holding hands, walking under a bridge at dusk, when he asked me if I would be his forever. At that very moment the park lights came on, basking the greenery in a soft glo. It was a magical moment. Two years from that date he proposed to me with a 25 cent gumball machine ring, we were too broke for a real ring but he wanted something to put on my finger. One year later, we were married on a lighted bridge at sunset, reminicent of the day in Central Park when he stole my heart for good. In our terribly short 5 years together, we had our share of ups and downs, made some poor choices, and spent a bit of time apart, but never did we lose hope... we knew our love was eternal. During those years, we welcomed 5 beautiful children into the world. I could not picture my life without him, I didn't want to, and we were lucky enough, our love was strong enough, that we were able to make everything work.

That Sunday was scheduled as our joint birthday party, and I spent the Saturday before it getting ready for the big day. I went out shopping, picked him up a few small things, and ordered his gift online when I got home. That night, we ordered pizza for dinner, gave the kids a bath and put them to bed, and watched a movie together. At around 11:30, I handed him our very awake 8 week old daughter, kissed him goodnight, and went to bed. At 6:30 on Sunday morning, my world came crashing down around me. I woke to find Anthony in bed next me, breathing strangely and unresponsive. In a matter of seconds, before I could process what was happening, he stopped breathing and went limp. I called 911 and performed CPR until the medics arrived, our 3 year son watching everything from the doorway. They worked on him for over an hour but there was nothing they could do. All I could think, once I managed to stop screaming, was what am I going to tell my poor babies?? Time stood still for over a week as I did things no 22 year old should have to do, calling his mom and dad to tell them what happened, informing his friends and family of our tradgedy, making funeral arrangements, and writing a eulogy for my beautiful and perfectly healthy 29 year old husband... it just didn't seem real, and to this day, there are times I still can't believe it. The Monday of his funeral was the worst day of my life, I honestly did not think I was going to live to put my kids to bed that night. His birthday present was delivered as I dressed our kids for their father's funeral.

Somehow, through the grace of God, we all survived that horrific time in our lives, and we're still here, chugging along, doing the best we can.

Anthony's death left me in a very awkward position, not knowing where to stand in the lives of my 2 stepsons. Although they resulted from a less than ideal situation, I love them as my own and have taken on responsibility and joint custody, and they will always be a part of my family. I love them with all my heart and I am grateful their mother and I have been able to work together in parenting these boys.

With no income to speak of, no way to pay for daycare, no way to support my own children, my mother took us in, opening her doors, her arms, and her heart to us all. She has been there for us in more ways than I can describe, supporting us on her single income while I stay home with the kids and continue my education online so that one day I can do this on my own. While her arms and her heart are more than big enough for all of us, this house is not. It is not safe or sound, especially for the kids. The roof is leaking terribly and we've had to cut out pieces of sheet rock from the attic ceiling to let the insulation drip dry because we can't afford to replace it, the basement is wet and moldy, and the foundation and supports of the house are failing to the point that our floors are sloping. We have a huge maple tree in the backyard that has been discolored down the trunk for quite some time, it looses large limbs in every storm and we're terrified it's going to fall on the house at some point. Living here is our only option at this point, and although the kids don't know any better, my mom and I are scared because we know this house isn't safe.

We're not really heroes, we donate to Toys For Tots every Christmas, and we give blood when we can find the time. Our valiant efforts all happen here, in this house, trying our best to raise these kids to be respectful, responsible, resourceful people who will remember their Daddy for the wonderful and loving man he was. Although so many people call me "SuperMom", and I hear almost every day that people just can't understand how I do it all... I do what I have to do, because I love my kids and they need me now more than ever. When I'm feeling particularly down, I always hear how inspired people are by our story, by our ability to keep going even though life has dealt us a less than ideal hand. I know that our property isn't the type usually chosen, either, we don't have a huge lot or a gorgeous neighborhood. But we need the help, so desperately that I'm getting goosebumps as I write this because I just know that at some point, *something* good has to come from this horrible, still unthinkable situation. I feel in my heart that our story would truly touch the hearts of others :)


Anthony and I used to watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition almost every week, grateful that the help was there for the people in need. Now, we need your help. Please, ABC, help us make this house a safe home for these beautiful kids to grow up in!!!!!

Please see the attached photos...

Bonnie Isaac and Sandra Fuller
14 Margaret st
Johnson City NY 13790
607-217-5921
607-206-7101


mom Bonnie Isaac 3/12/85 24 years old
'Gramma" Sandra Fuller 3/2/60 49 years old

son Dominick 'Rayce' Jovan Isaac 8/21/04 almost 5 years old
stepson Holden Jet Kavi Isaac 3/7/06 3 years old
daughter Talia 'Charlize' Calista Isaac 6/15/06 almost 3 years old
stepson Dante Bowen Skylar Towle 2/5/07 2 years old
daughter Liliya Marin Corrin Isaac 1/11/08 16 months old



If you feel that we're deserving and 'fit the bill', it would be wonderful to have nominations from friends or family...

"Extreme Makeover" looking for Ithaca-area familyLast Update: 5/27 12:49 pm Print Story Share this Story [SetText Size Small] [Set Text Size Medium] [Set Text Size Large] [SetText Size X-Large] [(WSYR NewsChannel 9 )] (WSYRNewsChannel 9 ) Ithaca (WSYR-TV) -

They had such a good time in CentralNew York last August, the cast and crew of "Extreme Makeover HomeEdition" want to return.

"We are looking for the deserving people and inspiring families thatAmerica can really root for," says Casting Supervisor Morgan Fahey.What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover?

"We're lookingfor those special people who have amazing strength of character andnever give up. Whether it's keeping their chin up in really toughcircumstances or going out of their way to help others. We want to helppeople whose stories have really affected their community or made a bigdifference in other people's lives." Fahey added: "There are a lotof people who are heroes to those around them because of the way theyinspire others and quietly serve their communities on a daily basis.

"The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition producers are looking for familieswhose homes desperately need to be rebuilt. "We really want to helpfamilies whose homes present major problems for the family, those bigissues that affect the family's quality of life on a daily basis. Wewant to find deserving people who just don't have the resources,ability, or time to fix those serious issues without our help.

"To be eligible, a family must own their own single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference intheir lives.

Interested families should e-mail a short description of their family story to: castnewyork@gmail.com mailto:castingky@gmail.com

Nominations may be submitted by the family or by a member of theircommunity. Each nomination must include the names and ages of everymember of the household along with a description of the major challengeswithin the home. Anyone submitting a nomination should be sure toexplain why the nominated family is deserving, heroic, and/or a greatrole model for their community. If possible, include a recent photo ofthe family. All nominations must include a contact phone number.

The deadline for nominations is June 9, 2009. Don't delay!

For more information on how to apply please visit our website at:http://abc.go. com/primetime/ xtremehome/ index?pn= apply<http://abc.go. com/primetime/ xtremehome/ index?pn= apply>