'Extreme' family to be complete again after 'makeover'

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Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:00 pm | Updated: 9:31 pm, Wed Oct 21,

2009.

'Extreme' family to be complete again after 'makeover'

By Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@... | 0

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BUNKER HILL -- The guessing is over. ABC's " Extreme Makeover: Home Edition " has

chosen a family who are truly deserving of a gift.

Just after 8 a.m., the famous bus arrived via heavy police escort from many area

agencies at the home of the Cowan-Brown family, near Bunker Hill.

The show's host Ty Pennington then came to the front door for the door knock and

his loud welcome with his megaphone.

" There was falling down the stairs, " said Cowan, the mother, at the

press conference. " It was probably not the most graceful exit our family has

ever had, but again it was very unreal. It still has not sunk in. It's like a

dream. "

The family also includes her husband, Andy, and children who are Mason Cowan, 8;

Kori Brown, 12; Trevor Brown, 13; and Brown, 16.

" Extreme Makover: Home Edition " looks for heroes, people who give back, inspire

their community and make a difference, said executive producer Conrad Rickets

last week. This episode's hero is Kori Brown.

Brown was diagnosed with a blood disease six years ago and while she was

receiving treatment she became friends with Alyssa Lewandowski, a Noblesville

girl who was being treated for leukemia. Brown later heard an advertisement for

American Cancer Society's Relay for Life about helping to find a cure for

cancer. She then decided that she was going to help.

" I have raised over $38,000 for the American Cancer Society by basically just

going door-to-door selling things and we had auctions before, " Brown said. " We

did the work because of my friend Alyssa, she has cancer, but she is in

remission now. "

This young girl is out helping people who she has never met by supporting this

cause. The problem is that the house she lives in that was originally a barn is

over-run by mold. Kori is allergic to mold. The family first found the mold five

years ago, they said, and it has gotten so bad in the past two years that not

all the members of the family were able to stay together.

" My children have been farmed out to other places to live because it's too bad

of a house, " Cowan said. " You're literally going to put our family back

together again. "

The arrival of the show brought the first day of filming. Volunteers walked over

and over again to get the " Braveheart march " just right. And, the family left

and returned, and left again multiple times in a white Ford Excursion limousine.

The family is now on their way to Disneyland for a week, with all expenses paid.

As for missing a week of school, she says Macanoquah is a great school.

" It's just very overwhelming and I know it hasn't hit yet, " she said. " I'm kind

of numb right now, but I just hope that you understand that you guys have saved

our family. It's not just about the house. This is a lot bigger than the house.

I am a little jealous because I think it would be very fun to stay here and

watch it. "

Demolition of the family's home will be at about 10 a.m. Thursday. When the

house is destroyed the 106-hour clock to complete the project will begin. The

thousands of volunteers will work non-stop until it is finished.

During this season, the show will also feature a celebrity. Rapper Xzibit, and

host of MTV's " Pimp My Ride, " will be helping out during the week at the site.

The first day of taping also drew Peru's mayor to the event.

" I think what this shows for the people who will be watching what kind of a

community we have here, " Mayor Jim said.