Gilliam Family Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

[Guest guest]

ann Gilliam and her six children of Armada Township, MI, lost

their father in a tragic, unexpected death on Christmas Eve.

http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/bios/403.html

Gilliam simultaneously worked several jobs to support his

family in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter and

EMT. He was one state test away from getting his instructor

coordinator license when he suddenly died. As a result of her

husband's autopsy, ann learned that the basement of her family's

home was contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic spores. Her

doctor advised the mother and her six children to vacate the house

for health reasons. The community has rallied around the Gilliams;

since 's death, the family have lived with several family

members, neighbors and friends. Currently they are living with

ann's sister.

So the design team will not only be changing lives, but also saving

them - the Gilliams' doctor said they cannot return to the house

because they will all get sick in that environment. The new house is

built in the fastest time ever in the show's history -- in 53 hours

and 54 minutes -- which is half the show's normal build time!