'Extreme Makeover' to feature Michigan family

[Guest guest]

This show aired last night, November 30. It was a heartwarming tear jerker!

Thank the good Lord for people like those who helped this little family!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

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http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-44/1228054534312660.xml & c\

oll=6 & thispage=1

'Extreme Makeover' to feature Michigan family

Sunday, November 30, 2008 By D. Grand Rapids Press

Press Entertainment Editor

HOLT -- Life has been overwhelming for Arlene Nickless. Tonight, you'll find out

why.

The Nickless family will be featured on the highly rated ABC reality TV show

" Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. "

What can viewers expect?

" To cry, " Nickless said in an exclusive interview with The Press. " With it being

so personal, it's going to be very hard ... reliving what we've gone through. "

Earlier this year, Nickless lost her husband of 18 years, Tim, who was infected

with Hepatitis C while working as a nurse in a Lansing hospital.

The couple and their three sons lived in an old farm house Tim had been fixing

up for years.

But when Tim died unexpectedly in January, Arlene was left struggling to make

ends meet and to keep up with the house. She had lost her job right before

Christmas 2007.

She wrote a letter to the producers of " Extreme Makeover, " who called her almost

immediately. Soon, she was one of five Michigan families up for the home

makeover.

" It's been quite an experience, " Nickless said. " From literally being plucked

out of the picture and being sent off to Disney and all of sudden coming back

.... and then everything went back to normal, other than we're in this beautiful

new home. "

She missed seeing the community come together as host Ty Pennington and crew

constructed a new home (now valued at $300,000) with local builder Mayberry

Builders, and an army of volunteers.

" I hear from everyone how excited the community was, how excited Michigan was to

be able to help us out, and I did not feel it because I missed it all, " she

said. " Now, I'll actually be able to see what was done for our family. ... It's

been an awesome experience. "

A lot of friends in Grand Rapids will be watching, too, Nickless said. Her

husband, Tim, grew up near the Madison Avenue area. His parents, Roy and Betty

Nickless, who are deceased, owned Nickless Foreign Auto on Division Avenue, she

said. Betty Nickless was an RN at Metro Hospital and was active in rescuing

injured or abandoned animals, and Tim helped, too.

Nickless said Tim graduated with honors from Grand Rapids Community College in

December 1991, and was on the dean's list as president of his graduating nursing

class.

" We moved to Lansing for Tim to continue his career at MSU; his dream was to

become a cardiovascular surgeon, " Nickless said. " (But) three children later, he

decided to remain in the nursing field. He not only worked long, 12-hour shifts,

he also taught at Lansing Community College as a cardiac life support

instructor. "

" He was a high Type A individual, who believed in helping all of God's

creations. He was always there for anyone who needed help or advice. ... Along

with all of that, he was an awesome dad " to his two daughters, her three

children from a previous marriage and their three boys.

" Tim really was an extraordinary man, " she added.

As for the big reveal, Nickless can't say too much. But she's looking forward to

tonight's show on the big screen in the Breslin Center at Michigan State

University. Fans will be able to see Nickless and her interaction with the

show's celebrity designers, including Pennington, known for his " Move That Bus! "

proclamation.

" Ty was awesome, as were the whole design team. They really are genuine, " she

said.

Most importantly, Nickless hopes tonight's episode will inspire those in need to

seek help.

" I know this story is about our family, but the whole thing about the show is

the fact that people are coming together to help those in need, " she said.

" If you're out there and you're suffering, and you're in need of any kind, the

best thing to do is not be alone. Let others know. There is help there for you.

People can't help you if you don't let them know you need help. "

Viewing party with Arlene Nickless family

When: 7 tonight; doors open at 6:30; the public is invited

Where: Breslin Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing

Extra: Featuring a performance by Three Men and a Tenor; showing of " Extreme

Makeover " begins at 8

Admission: Free.

How to help: Donations to Nickless family mortgage can be made online at

mayberryhomesextreme.com or at the Lansing Federal Credit Union (LAFCU).

Find out more

Check out " Going Gonzo " -- at blog.mlive.com/goinggonzo -- for more on his

exclusive interview with Arlene Nickless, and how you can help the family.

" Extreme Makeover: Home Edition " airs at 8 tonight on ABC-TV.

Send e-mail to the author: jgonzalez@...

[Guest guest]

This show aired last night, November 30. It was a heartwarming tear jerker!

Thank the good Lord for people like those who helped this little family!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

------------------

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-44/1228054534312660.xml & c\

oll=6 & thispage=1

'Extreme Makeover' to feature Michigan family

Sunday, November 30, 2008 By D. Grand Rapids Press

Press Entertainment Editor

HOLT -- Life has been overwhelming for Arlene Nickless. Tonight, you'll find out

why.

The Nickless family will be featured on the highly rated ABC reality TV show

" Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. "

What can viewers expect?

" To cry, " Nickless said in an exclusive interview with The Press. " With it being

so personal, it's going to be very hard ... reliving what we've gone through. "

Earlier this year, Nickless lost her husband of 18 years, Tim, who was infected

with Hepatitis C while working as a nurse in a Lansing hospital.

The couple and their three sons lived in an old farm house Tim had been fixing

up for years.

But when Tim died unexpectedly in January, Arlene was left struggling to make

ends meet and to keep up with the house. She had lost her job right before

Christmas 2007.

She wrote a letter to the producers of " Extreme Makeover, " who called her almost

immediately. Soon, she was one of five Michigan families up for the home

makeover.

" It's been quite an experience, " Nickless said. " From literally being plucked

out of the picture and being sent off to Disney and all of sudden coming back

.... and then everything went back to normal, other than we're in this beautiful

new home. "

She missed seeing the community come together as host Ty Pennington and crew

constructed a new home (now valued at $300,000) with local builder Mayberry

Builders, and an army of volunteers.

" I hear from everyone how excited the community was, how excited Michigan was to

be able to help us out, and I did not feel it because I missed it all, " she

said. " Now, I'll actually be able to see what was done for our family. ... It's

been an awesome experience. "

A lot of friends in Grand Rapids will be watching, too, Nickless said. Her

husband, Tim, grew up near the Madison Avenue area. His parents, Roy and Betty

Nickless, who are deceased, owned Nickless Foreign Auto on Division Avenue, she

said. Betty Nickless was an RN at Metro Hospital and was active in rescuing

injured or abandoned animals, and Tim helped, too.

Nickless said Tim graduated with honors from Grand Rapids Community College in

December 1991, and was on the dean's list as president of his graduating nursing

class.

" We moved to Lansing for Tim to continue his career at MSU; his dream was to

become a cardiovascular surgeon, " Nickless said. " (But) three children later, he

decided to remain in the nursing field. He not only worked long, 12-hour shifts,

he also taught at Lansing Community College as a cardiac life support

instructor. "

" He was a high Type A individual, who believed in helping all of God's

creations. He was always there for anyone who needed help or advice. ... Along

with all of that, he was an awesome dad " to his two daughters, her three

children from a previous marriage and their three boys.

" Tim really was an extraordinary man, " she added.

As for the big reveal, Nickless can't say too much. But she's looking forward to

tonight's show on the big screen in the Breslin Center at Michigan State

University. Fans will be able to see Nickless and her interaction with the

show's celebrity designers, including Pennington, known for his " Move That Bus! "

proclamation.

" Ty was awesome, as were the whole design team. They really are genuine, " she

said.

Most importantly, Nickless hopes tonight's episode will inspire those in need to

seek help.

" I know this story is about our family, but the whole thing about the show is

the fact that people are coming together to help those in need, " she said.

" If you're out there and you're suffering, and you're in need of any kind, the

best thing to do is not be alone. Let others know. There is help there for you.

People can't help you if you don't let them know you need help. "

Viewing party with Arlene Nickless family

When: 7 tonight; doors open at 6:30; the public is invited

Where: Breslin Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing

Extra: Featuring a performance by Three Men and a Tenor; showing of " Extreme

Makeover " begins at 8

Admission: Free.

How to help: Donations to Nickless family mortgage can be made online at

mayberryhomesextreme.com or at the Lansing Federal Credit Union (LAFCU).

Find out more

Check out " Going Gonzo " -- at blog.mlive.com/goinggonzo -- for more on his

exclusive interview with Arlene Nickless, and how you can help the family.

" Extreme Makeover: Home Edition " airs at 8 tonight on ABC-TV.

Send e-mail to the author: jgonzalez@...