Beavercreek Ohio Extreme Makeover to Air in November

BEAVERCREEK,OH - ABC has announced the air date for the episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition featuring the Terpenning family of Beavercreek. The show is set for broadcast at 8 p.m., Sunday November 8, 2009 on WKEF-TV, Channel 22.

Terpenning works in civilian technical support at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He grew up in a wheelchair having been crippled by polio during infancy and abandoned by his American G.I. father in Vietnam. Growing up, he was competitive in wheelchair sports and eventually represented the United States at the Paralympics, where he earned both gold and silver medals.

Today he and his wife, Shannon, are raising their four children, Josselyn, age 6, twins Justin and Jacob, age 2, and Joshua, who is 1 year old. The couple also cares for James' adopted brother, Peter, who is also confined to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Peter was left in a group home after his mother died, but came to live with his brother three years ago. The entire family was crammed into a 1,100 square-foot home.

The Terpenning family was nominated for the Extreme Makeover by Col. Sue Busler (Ret.), who worked with James at Wright Patterson Air Force Base for 7 years. "He is just an all around nice guy, super honest, and has all kinds of integrity, does everything with passion and he is a wonderful family man," Busler said.

The producers of Extreme Makeover Home Edition worked with more than 1,500 volunteers from local builders to support staff and suppliers who donated materials and labor to the effort. The family went on a much needed vacation at Disney World and their belongings were removed when the original home was demolished and replaced with the new house.

Hundreds of spectators gathered at the site to watch Ty Pennington, his Extreme Makeover crew, and dozens of volunteers demolish the Terpenning home in preparation for new construction. Airmen and officers of the United States Air Force got the wrecking ball rolling by ripping up the wooden wheelchair ramp and other pieces of the exterior before bringing in the heavy machinery.

Less than a week after the project began, more than 5,000 spectators gathered on Carthage Dr. to watch the big reveal and the arrival of the Terpenning family at their new home. On September 19, the Springboro Women in Business organization presented the Terpenning family with a commemorative photo book of the project which included pictures taken by visitors and many from Greene County Dailies columnist, Gery L. Deer.

Just before the show airs, WKEF-TV Channel 22 will run a half-hour special beginning at 7:30 p.m. which will include a behind-the-scenes look at the week-long Extreme Makeover build in Beavercreek. Check local listings for exact information.