Family celebrates 'Extreme Makeover' of home

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

PINON, Ariz. — When Garrett Yazzie and his family caught a first glimpse of their new home, their jaws dropped in awe, and their astonishment instantly transformed into tears of joy.

Their happiness spread among the crowd of spectators, including extended family members, who wept a few tears of their own and embraced one another upon seeing their reaction.

Dressed in traditional Navajo clothing, the family stood outside their new home for several minutes as their reaction was recorded by ABC's TV host of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

One spectator, who was close of enough to hear the conversation among the Yazzie family and Ty Pennington, the show's host, heard Garrett's younger sister ask if they had to give anything back. Pennington then looked at her and replied, "Everything is yours. Everything belongs to you."

Just last week ago, a desolate two-bedroom single wide trailer sat in the same place as the Yazzie family's new lavish six-bedroom home. It was the last time they would see the trailer before packing their bags to an all expense paid trip to Disney World, courtesy of the ABC-TV show.

The Yazzie family was selected to receive a brand new home from the popular television show after producers caught wind of a solar power invention that Garrett built nearly two years ago to heat his family's home. The cost of hauling wood was an expense the family could not afford and because burning coal triggered asthma attacks in his special needs sister, Gwendolyn, he became motivated to do something.

He was 13 when he built the solar and water powered heater, using a 1967 Pontiac radiator and Diet Coke cans. His invention captured the eye of science judges nationwide, winning him local and national awards, recognition, and a spot on Discovery Channel's Young Scientist Challenge. The invention is the first of its kind.

Family elated
"It's just amazing," said Barbara Ranger, 65, aunt to Georgia, as she wiped away tears from her eyes just 15 minutes prior to their arrival. "It's a great blessing for them. He's done a great thing for his mom."

The show averages around 5,000 to 7,000 letters and videotapes daily from people across the United States who share stories of their need for a new home. The show selects only 26 families each year for a new home and Garrett's story won the hearts of the shows producers. After scouting the family's home last November, they were convinced that they were in great need of a home and were a deserving family.

In honor of Garrett, builders designed a "green" sustainable energy house utilizing solar power panels and wind energy. Because the home is built with the latest construction advancements, it is self-sustainable and will save hundreds of dollars on electric and gas costs. A team consisting of 800 builders completed the home in 106 hours.

The family was also presented with a brand new 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid. Like the home, the hybrid is "solar inspired," and runs on minimal gasoline.

The Yazzie family could not be interviewed Tuesday afternoon or evening, since the shows producers were scheduled to give them tours of their home and do additional taping.

"It's like a dream," said Tony Tom, 59, Georgia's older brother. "We heard about it (the new home), but we didn't know it was going to be something like this."

The new home consists of two traditional hogans connected by a living room area. One side of the home is for Georgia and her children, and the other side of the home is for Garrett's older sister and her two children. It comes completely furnished and decorated.

A wonderful blessing
Family members said that Georgia and her family have been through hard times and that the arrival of ABC's and HomeLife Communities, thehomebuilders, is a wonderful blessing.

"They struggled with their daily livelihood," said Tom.

Hard times got worse for the Yazzie family after a recent head-on vehicle collision near Low Mountain left Georgia temporarily confined to a wheelchair. Her injuries left her no choice but to take a leave of absence from her job as a special education assistant at Pinon Unified School District.

"I'm just happy for them," said Lillian Nezzie, 50, Georgia's sister. "It's amazing. I can't believe it."

Supportive community
Sporadic dust bowls and steady wind didn't keep spectators from expressing their enthusiasm throughout the taping for the show. Spectators were transported by school bus to the home location, where they happily participated in several "dry run" tapings. Many wore blue shirts and red baseball caps decorated with the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" logo. Throughout the day, the shows various celebrity hosts greeted with fans.

Though unexpected weather, the immediate availability of products, and no Internet and cell phone service posed a challenge to builders, there was one big plus that separated the community of Pinon from other extreme makeovers.

"We had more volunteers here than bigger city locations," said Paul Williams, assistant location manager.

Tuesday morning, a traditional blessing ceremony and dedication for the home was conducted by medicine woman Grace Red Mustache, 76, and Tom. The family did not stay in their home Tuesday night, but will be spending their first night at the home Wednesday evening.

Tom, who describes his nephew as once being shy and polite, said he has noticed that he has become more vocal.

Garrett is attending a prestigious private school called St. Mary's Academy in Orchard Lake, Mich. He was taken under the wing of a General Motors engineer, who Garrett now lives with in Detroit, after the engineer discovered the heart of his invention was the GM Pontiac radiator.

Builders remained mum of the interior details of the home, which will be revealed and aired on show this summer or early fall. Elsa Johnson, cultural consultant for the project, said the home incorporates Navajo designs, like the Tree of Life, and includes an outside area for a "cha'oh."