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EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
Air Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC
Episode Title: (#612) "Grys Family" (Repeat)
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" PROVIDES A BETTER HOME FOR A FAMILY WHOSE YOUNGEST SON IS AFFLICATED WITH BRITTLE BONES DISEASE

"Dancing with the Stars" Shows Some Steps in Designing a Special Room For One of the Family Members

"Grys family" -- "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be traveling to Pekin, IL to provide the Grys family -- in just seven days -- a better and safer home for their youngest son who has brittle bone disease, SUNDAY, JUNE 28 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 1/11/09)

Stephen, a special education teacher and his wife, Jean, have been foster parents for 25 years, fostering over 250 children. Their adopted son, eight-year-old Easter Seals Ambassador Jake Grys, suffers from Ontogenesis Imperfecta (a.k.a. Brittle Bone Disease) and Dwarfism. Jake was not expected to live more than a few weeks past birth. He far exceeded doctors' expectations and has an above average intelligence and a bursting personality. Inspired by Jake's spirit, Jean founded the Illinois Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Support Group (OIF). She created an adoption listing within the OIF and helps private agencies find adoptive placements for children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta from India and China. The entire family is involved in fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MD), St. Jude, Easter Seals and the Special Olympics. In addition to coaching, competing and caring for the needs of the Special Olympics, Jake's siblings, Josh and Zach, have been camp counselors for the MD camp for six years, and Abagail and Rebekah have spent summers working with disabled children at Sunshine Camp.

Jake's greatest desire is to be able to do things independently. Physically he cannot get a drink, go to the bathroom, turn on a light or even open a door. Jacob is so delicate that he sleeps in a dog bed made of memory foam so he won't fall off and break his bones. Now with the help of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," Jake's independence can become a reality and his family can continue to focus on their community service. In addition, designer Rib Hillis heads to Los Angeles to consult with two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Cheryl Burke for help in designing a special theme room for daughter Bekah's room.

While Ty and the designers, local builder Design Built Homes and hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Grys family will go on vacation to Walt Disney World.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Ed Sanders, Rib Hillis and Didiayer. The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It's executive-produced by Anthony Dominici. 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.

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