Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
The Grys Family - Pekin, IL
Stephen, a special education teacher and his wife, Jean, have been foster parents for 25 years, fostering over 250 children. Their adopted son, eight-year-old Easter Seals Ambassador Jake Grys, suffers from Ontogenesis Imperfecta (a.k.a. Brittle Bone Disease) and Dwarfism. Jake was not expected to live more than a few weeks past birth. He far exceeded doctors' expectations and has an above average intelligence and a bursting personality. Inspired by Jake's spirit, Jean founded the Illinois Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation Support Group (OIF). She created an adoption listing within the OIF and helps private agencies find adoptive placements for children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta from India and China. The entire family is involved in fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MD), St. Jude, Easter Seals and the Special Olympics. In addition to coaching, competing and caring for the needs of the Special Olympics, Jake's siblings, Josh and Zach, have been camp counselors for the MD camp for six years, and Abagail and Rebekah have spent summers working with disabled children at Sunshine Camp.
Jake's greatest desire is to be able to do things independently. Physically he cannot get a drink, go to the bathroom, turn on a light or even open a door. Jacob is so delicate that he sleeps in a dog bed made of memory foam so he won't fall off and break his bones. Now with the help of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Jake's independence can become a reality and his family can continue to focus on their community service. In addition, designer Rib Hillis heads to Los Angeles to consult with two-time Dancing with the Stars champion Cheryl Burke for help in designing a special theme room for daughter Bekah's room.
Contributors
| COMPANY | CONTRIBUTION | PHONE NUMBER | WEB ADDRESS | |
| Viking Pools Inc. | Hydro Zone G | (800) VKG- POOL | www.vikingpools.net | |
| The Pool & Spa Doctor | Pool Installation | (309) 698-7665 | www.thepoolandspadoctor.com | |
| SR Smith | Custom hand rails for pool | (800) 824-4387 | www.srsmith.com | |
| In the Swim | Pool Lift & Pool Cover | (800) 288-7946 | www.intheswim.com | |
| Fiberstars | Pool lighting | (888) 704-2276 | www.fiberstars.com | |
| National Pool Tile | Perimeter tile for pool | (888) 411-TILE | www.nptgonline.com | |
| Chlorine Free USA | Water treatment system | (800) 571-0773 | www.chlorinefeeusa.com | |
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