Local Family Chosen For Extreme Surprise

By Tak Landrockt.landrock@krdotv.com

FALCON – Pinevalley Circle is usually quiet Sunday morning, except for the sounds of kids playing in the street. That wasn’t the case this Sunday. “When we were out there, we saw the bus coming and we’re like look, look, look the bus is coming,” says 12-year-old Christen Olsen. Neighbors were told Saturday that the Woodhouse family was one of five finalists for ABC’s hit show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition. “They asked me if it was alright to park in front of my driveway,” says neighbor Kim Harris.

The Woodhouse family has been living in a home in Falcon since March, donated to themat a dicounted rental price. “They are such giving people,” says Holly Volstatd, who has known the family for several years. “For them to get something this big, it’s a blessing so large, it’s just amazing.”

The family was chosen because 10-year-old Kayla suffers from a rare illness that doesn’t allow her to feel pain. “It’s been difficult for her,” executive producer Denise Cramsey told NEWSCHANNEL 13. “She doesn’t know if she stubs her toe, she doesn’t know if she burned her hand and she sometime will scratch her skin until she bleeds.” In addition to not being able to feel pain, she has to be in a room where the temperature is 62 degrees.

According to a family friend, there are only 25 other known cases of Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy in the world. “As you can imagine, the medical bills are astronomical so they were able to obtain medical insurance, but only if (her) mom quit her job,” says Cramsey. The family income went down and they were unable to own a home of their own.

Kayla’s mother, Kim, now helps home school other kids, while dad Jeremy works as an associate pastor at Falcon Baptist Church. The new home will be built near Fontaine and Marksheffel, about 16 miles from where they currently live.

Volunteers will begin building the home on Tuesday and it should be completed one-week later. “We have to go to the community and say ‘will you build the family a house’ and we have to feel confident the community will say yes,” says Cramsey. She added Colorado Springs is a great community to work with because the people are so accommodating. “When they come back home, they’re going to have a brand new house and a safe house and one with very good air conditioning for Kayla.”