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The Cerda family — Chuck, Terri, Maggie and Molly — leave their home on Tuesday, which will be torn down and replaced as part of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 10:36 p.m.
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Beyond the Sun
Members of a Las Vegas family got a knock on the door Tuesday that will change their lives.
The Cerda family, of 5760 Royal Castle Lane in the northwest valley, was told by the cast and crew of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” that it was chosen to have the family's home demolished and rebuilt in seven days.
“I’ve had probably 18 out-of-body experiences so far today and I’m sure I’ve got about 25 more stacked up, and this is absolutely amazing and we can’t wait,” said homeowner Chuck Cerda, a Homeland Security police officer.
The family was one of five finalists from Las Vegas and won because the home is nearly unlivable for their two daughters, who were diagnosed with Combined Immune Deficiency Disease at the age of 3.
“Having the better environment is going to lengthen their lives,” Cerda said.
The Cerdas say they have been isolated in their home because of the girls’ illness and were thankful for volunteers and the support of the Las Vegas community.
“Even in tough times, people can pull together like this. It's just amazing to us because we have so many friends that are struggling right now and for those people to put aside their problems right now to come out this week ... is truly amazing," Chuck's wife, Terri, said. "We feel so blessed to have this community around us."
Hundreds of people have signed up to volunteer for the various jobs needed during the demolition and rebuilding of the house. One volunteer, Randy Jenkins, a regional operator for the Baja Fresh restaurant, was on site scoping out the house before Thursday’s demolition. Baja Fresh will provide four meals to workers and volunteers during the rebuilding, which will begin this week.
“I always see it on TV and I didn’t know they were coming to Vegas, and just with the family and the volunteers and what they do, we just wanted to get involved with the community,” Jenkins said.
Several neighbors also were out Tuesday watching the commotion of cameras and waiting to say goodbye to the Cerdas as they begin a weeklong vacation in Maui.
“It's really good because everybody struggles with properties, everyone is losing their houses, and it's very exciting that they’re going to make a difference in all this mess that’s going on,” neighbor Cristina Valdez said.
The family is leaving for Hawaii on Wednesday morning, then the house will be demolished Thursday and rebuilt by volunteers and Wright Custom Homes. The family will return Tuesday to see the new customized house.
ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” airs at 8 p.m. Sundays.
This show turns my stomach. It is the old "Queen for a Day" on steroids. Whoever has the biggest sob story gets all the goodies. And while this is being done at private expense, it greatly increases the feeling that the government should be doing the same thing for anyone who isn't at the top.
How much would it cost to put this family, or any of the show's families, into a reasonable home instead of a new custom-built one with every possible extravigance? How many other people or programs could that extra money go to if the donors truly wanted to help as much as possible?
Wasn't something like this tried before and didn't the people end up losing the house because they couldn't pay the taxes? I'm sure there's gotta be some kind of 'gift tax' involved - not to mention higher property taxes once the value of the home is established. I can these people out in the street within a year.
Its not costing you anything, so why do you care?
Get a life.
Yeah for real boftx, get a life.
You make it sound like their sob story is made up or something.
It sounds like a very large amount of this stuff is donated (labor, materials, etc.). I think this show inspires giving, not government expectations.
mixed feelings here--I'm glad the family is getting help, but I wonder why everything is 'over the top'. I''m thankful for the sponsors, but wonder how much the cost merchandise in their stores has increased so that they have the money to donate.
BOFTX... It is people like you that turn my stomach. These homes are 100% donated and in the case of many the owners mortgage is paid off or a large fund is donated to help them with the funds to manage the home. The people that receive the home are all deserving families. You would not fit that description. You think about yourself and not others. This show inspires others to give in the community and many more will reep in the goodwill of the community that comes together to help this family and others.
Three cheers to Wright Custom Homes and Extreme Makeover Home Edition for helping this family!
Things like this should be done privately, behind the scenes without fanfare. This public display is disgusting. As was said by someone else, it is way over the top.
A deserving family is being helped out and one thinks it is disgusting to display this kind of generousity and good deed to others on tv? Ummmm, we need more shows like this that are inspiring and should be showcased more rather than the crap we see on tv such as sex and violance. I'd rather have my kids watch a good wholesome family show of "doing unto others" and learn from and be influenced from that than by junk. Thank you Extreme makeover for all you do! Keep it up!
I agree with Lana... the people who are complaining about a DESERVING family who gives back to the community getting a new home that will keep their daughters ALIVE are just JEALOUS that it is not happening to them. As far as it being on TV? I say THANK GOD! We need MORE shows like it on the air!