Neighbors are speaking out in Chapman why Extreme Makeover Home Edition made the right choice
2:37 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2008
"Oh I was so excited. I couldn't sleep, I just wanted to tell everybody," neighbor MiMi Woodworth said.
Woodworth lives across the street from the Tutwiler family, and she says as soon as she found out the Tutwilers were in the running for a new home by Extreme Makeover Home Edition, she knew they were the ones to be picked.
"Crystal was real upset. She goes, 'If we don't get it, we'll be homeless. We don't know where we'll live. We can't find rental property, we can't get a loan.' It's just been really, really sad," Woodworth said.
But throughout the process, MiMi says the Tutwilers tried to stay hopeful.
"They have been happy-go-lucky, they've been happy-go-lucky. 'Well, if we get it, we get it, if we don't,'" Woodworth described.
But MiMi tells us the Tutwiler family has lived a hard life, and this home will change their future.
"The life they've lived, no one should have to live…no one," Woodworth said.
And other neighbors are on board for a national TV show to come into the small town of Chapman. Debbie Owens says this is a golden opportunity.
"They were very upset and didn't know where they were going to end up if this didn't happen for them. I just think they're going to be overwhelmed by the whole thing," Owens said.
80 percent of Chapman was destroyed by the F-3 tornado on June 11. All three schools were destroyed, but school still started on time. In five months, the Chapman community has pulled together to rebuild this town.
"As hard of a situation as it's been to go through, it's been very...sorry...kind of emotional. You know, it's just been about getting the community back together," Owens said.
The Fighting Irish community says that's just what they are, fighters.
And soon, all of America will see it for themselves. The home will be completed by next Tuesday. While the work is being done, the family is on a Disney Cruise.
Previous stories: Extreme Makeover Home Edition comes to Chapman (11-11-08)
Extreme Makeover Home Edition designers are learning about Chapman (11-12-08)
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