Meet the Family

“EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION” LENDS A HELPING HAND TO A BIGHEARTED FAMILY WHO DESPITE EXTREME MEDICAL AND FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, STRIVE EVERYDAY TO HELP OTHERS AND INSPIRE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY

On September 28, 2009 the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” bus arrived in Lyme, NH, to tell Jay and Elena Marshall that their moldy and rotting home will be rebuilt in seven days.

Six years ago, Jay and Elena bought the perfect home: a home they could live in forever that would easily expand as their family grew.  But before they had a chance to build their first addition, an onslaught of problems from carbon monoxide leaks to mold and rotting wood brought their dreams for their home to a halt.  Before they could begin tackling the growing list of problems with their home, their now, 10-year-old son, Cameron, was diagnosed with leukemia.  Despite the mounting medical bills and the fear of having to leave their home due to the dangers it presents to Cameron’s recovery, the Marshall family came together and rallied their community behind their son’s “Be+” campaign (Be Positive), named after Cameron’s blood type.  The B+ Positive for CHaD Kids campaign and Cam’s Course Run have already brought over $100,000 for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD), including $3,500 Cameron raised on his own. Their goal is to help other families handle the emotional and financial challenges created by long-term hospitalization, and chronic illness. Now it’s up to Ty and the designers to build Jay, 39, Elena, 40, Beau, 17, Olivia, 14, Kennedy, 11, Cameron, 10, Emilie, 8, Faith, 7, Rylie, 5, and Nina, 3, a safe and healthy home that will allow their family to continue to grow and the B+ Positive for CHaD Kids campaign to flourish.
The Marshals will go on vacation to Walt Disney World while “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team leader Ty Pennington, designers Michael Moloney, Paige Hemmis, and Eduardo Xol, and more than 1,500 volunteer led by local builder Trumbull-Nelson Construction transform their home.