FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

Original post by AndreaLMT

May 08, 2005 04:08 PM

MAY 15th (two hour special 7-9pm)

on ABC (channel 7 for most of us).

It's finally almost here!!!!

Next Episode:
Sunday, May 15, 7/6c
'Vitale Family'
In two back-to-back episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, a small two-bedroom house on Long Island, New York is transformed into a magnificent 2400-square-foot home for a young widower with three toddler sons.

THE Long Island cop whose home was rebuilt by 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' earlier this spring will get a two-hour episode May 15.
John Vitale, 32, a Suffolk County cop with three small sons, lost his wife to leukemia last summer. The family savings, which were intended to renovate the house, went for doctor bills. It was a rare springtime trip to the East Coast for the makeover show, especially at a time of year when the weather was so unpredictable.

ABC officials did not provide details about the inside of the home — but when work was done, the tiny, 900-square-foot house had been blown out to 2,300 square feet.

While the family was away, the community held a fundraiser for the cop and his family at the town's fire station, where neighbors and local businesses raised more than $125,000 to help him get back on his feet.

More than 3,000 people — including neighbors, friends, strangers, bagpipers and drummers from the Suffolk County Police Officer's Emerald Society Pipe Band — turned up in a cold rain to see the Vitale's reaction to their new home when they were brought back from a week-long vacation.

Catastrophe struck the family soon after they moved out of their North Shore home and temporarily set up living quarters with wife Anne-Marie's parents to make way for the original renovation.

Anne-Marie was only 28 when she died in August 2004.

The cop and his sons have been living with his in-laws, sleeping on couches and mattresses, since then.

For more info:

www.annmarievitale.com
www.alure.com

BriBri529 Posted: May 15, 2005 10:27 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I will definitely be watching!!!

holly231 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:01 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

ITS STARTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

salsbride06 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:02 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

im watching now....i already have tears in my eyes...so sad.

salsbride06 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:03 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

so sad!!!!!!!!! i am glad that they picked such a great family. very touching

Goldi1021 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:08 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I'm crying too! I guess I feel an LI kinship. Everyone wants to help neighbors. G-d bless this show!

bugginvw2 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:09 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

This is such a beautiful thing!!!!!! I wish them the best of luck!!!!!!!!! Only 8mins into the show and i am in tears.
Best wishes to the Vitale Family!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dandj Posted: May 15, 2005 07:09 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I can't stop crying either.... I'm so glad they did this for them...

Monkeybride Posted: May 15, 2005 07:11 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I'm crying already. It makes you realize just how precious life is.

MCDO15 Posted: May 15, 2005 07:19 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

i remember reading about her when ann marie first got sick. so sad
i'm glad abc does things like this. makes you feel there is hope in life

Johnny&Maur Posted: May 15, 2005 09:05 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I cried though the majority of this show...what a beautiful family!!

I think this story was a great reminder of how precious life is....and the things we think are big problems now really aren't at all. They are an inspiring family, I wish them all the happiness in the world.

cmastro25 Posted: May 15, 2005 10:23 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I never cried so much during an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Even the contractor from Allure was balling. Very touching!

Crismicka Posted: May 15, 2005 10:30 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I cried for 2 hours straight! What a heartwarming story!

FireIslandLove Posted: May 15, 2005 10:55 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

Posted by Johnny&Maur

I cried though the majority of this show...what a beautiful family!!

I think this story was a great reminder of how precious life is....and the things we think are big problems now really aren't at all. They are an inspiring family, I wish them all the happiness in the world.

I completely agree. I wish the entire Vitale family all the best. It is so unfair and heartbreaking what they went through, I'm glad they are able to get some happiness after such an awful loss.

nov.bride Posted: May 15, 2005 11:45 PM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

God bless the Vitale family- that episode was very touching.
What an amazing show- the guy who built the houses ( alure) had me bawling as well- he had a big heart too.
I thought it was wonderful that the family went in the house together to support John ( the husband).

Andrea- thanks for sharing all of this with us- you have a very amazing family

VS11 Posted: May 16, 2005 08:47 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I didnt cry...I SOBBED!!!!!! throughout the ENTIRE show!!!!!!!
I thought I was going to need oxygen when they showed the video of her best friends wedding..That had to be the most touching moment I have ever seen...

God Bless the Vitale family!!!!!!!

Soon2BMrsJoeF Posted: May 16, 2005 09:01 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

OMG, Andrea, FH & I watched the show last night and from the second I saw Ann Marie's face I was bawling uncontrollably. FH was also - neither one of us could stop ourselves. God Bless that beautiful family, and those adorable children! It was truly touching to see that a community of friends, family and perfect strangers united together to help a family in need, it is just a shame that it was due to the trajic loss of such a beautiful person. I hope that Anne Marie's memory lives on in that house forever and that someday those boys will know how wonderful their mother was and that she touched so many lives in such a beautiful way! God Bless you all.

Love,
Jess, John & Baby DOminic

Anniegrl Posted: May 16, 2005 09:23 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

It was such a sweet and touching episode - I watched it at my neighbor's house and we couldn't stop bawling! I LOVED the pictures of the kids and also Ann Marie's picture. How beautiful. And those boys - ADORABLE!!!!

jj04 Posted: May 16, 2005 09:24 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

What am amazing, beautiful family. They are so deserving of this. I never shed so many tears . God bless them.

wood2be Posted: May 16, 2005 09:41 AM

Re: FYI- TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.. THE VITALE FAMILY!!!

I had to watch it alone and it was probably a good thing because I bawled uncontrollably! What a bittersweet episode! The response from the community was overwhelming and reminds you of how good and generous people really are.

God Bless this family and all those who helped make this all happen for them!