JANUARY 13, 2008

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" COMES TO THE AID OF A LITTLE GIRL
WHO FEELS NO PAIN DUE TO A RARE AND DELIBITATING NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE
IN WHICH EXTREME HEAT AND COLD CAN KILL HER, ON JANUARY 13

The Woodhouse family of Calahan, CO were astonished to learn that Ty
Pennington and the gang would build them a safe and "cool" home in
just seven days on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," SUNDAY, JANUARY
13 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Ten-year-old Kayla Woodhouse feels no pain, and this precarious rare
condition can kill her. It was diagnosed in 1997 when Kim Woodhouse
took her second child, then 14-month-old Kayla on a trip to the
playground, and she passed out without any particular reason. Her
doctor discovered that Kayla was one of the 25 diagnosed people in
the world to suffer from Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, a
rare neurological disorder that lowers sensitivity to pain and
temperature. In other words, Kayla's cooling functions -- sweating --
don't kick in until her body reaches a lethal high temperature. Her
skin is overly dry, and she doesn't feel pain until it's 20 to 30
times the normal intensity. The doctors said if Kim had taken Kayla
out in the hot Louisiana sun more often, she might have died. Kayla
also suffers from severe allergies. She can only go outside to play
after sundown, which means she is forced to stay inside their home
most of the time. She can't run and swing and jump rope outside like
normal 10-year-olds because there isn't enough room in their house.

The Woodhouse family relocated to frigid Alaska in the hopes to
decrease any reoccurrences that Kayla might face. Their experiment
proved to be a failure when they found their daughter running outside
without shoes or socks in 15 below weather. They were advised to
settle in the more southern states and to visit special doctors that
might be able to help Kayla's chronic disease. In 2005, after the
Woodhouses had finally settled in Colorado Springs, CO, the family's
financial situation took a turn for the worse as the extensive trips
to the doctor sprung forth even larger medical bills.

With nowhere to go, and no money to help, the Woodhouse family has
been living with friends at a retirement home. This has led to
thousands of people petitioning and the local media nominating the
family for help. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has heard the call
and faces the challenge to build an industrial strength well air
conditioned home for Kayla and her family.

While Ty and the designers, local builder Premier Homes and hundreds
of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Woodhouse
family will go on vacation to a Hilton hotel in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Eduardo Xol, Ed
Sanders, Tracy Hutson, Tanya McQueen and Rib Hillis.

Source: ABC Press Release