“When they moved the bus, I could really feel a big burden lifted from me,” James said now about the thrilling moment captured by TV cameras and later shared with 10 million viewers across the globe. “I felt like life was going to be good, and it has. Now I can take care of my family, and I don’t have worries.”
Before show host Ty Pennington’s surprise knock on the door July 30, seven members of the Terpenning family lived in a crowded 1,200 square-foot house. In addition to their four young children, Shannon and James live with Terpenning’s adopted brother Joe, who has cerebral palsy. Because both Joe and James are wheelchair-bound, narrow hallways and steps made it impossible for them to navigate comfortably.
That’s all different now.
These days, the Terpennings are comfortably settled in the 3,300-square-foot French country style farm house that nearly tripled their living space.
“The best part is having everything so accessible,” Shannon said. “It makes life easier.”
Though James said he and his family “have always adapted and made do with what we have,” there’s no doubt they’re reveling in the expanded living space and extra bedrooms.
Custom furnishings and creative construction now make it possible for Joe and James to participate in every family activity — from washing dishes and cooking to laundry and tucking kids into bed at night.
The backyard, once a challenge for wheelchairs because of grass and steps, has become everyone’s favorite space.
“It’s easy to get to the backyard now, all level and flat,” explained Joe. “I can play with Josselyn, Justin, Jacob and Joshua.”
James recalled a time that 2-year-old Josh was climbing on top of the monkey bars when he got scared.
“He yelled out for me, and in the old house it would have taken quite a while for me to get to him,” James said. “But here, I was able to get him within five seconds. All a parent wants is for their kids to feel they can call for help and trust that their parents will be there for them.”
James, the polio-stricken son of a G.I. who abandoned him in Vietnam, was nominated for the TV show by a three-star general. He works as a civilian computer specialist at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, has won top medals at the Paralympic Games and acts as a mentor to disabled Iraqi vets.
For years, he’s spoken around town about overcoming disabilities; these days everyone also clamors to hear the behind-the-scenes “Extreme Makeover” stories. And folks from around the world want to friend him on Facebook.
“I was at a basketball exhibition last week at Victory Temple Church in Fairborn with my players and a few people came up and said they enjoyed the show and had worked on the house,” he said.
Shannon, too, still gets a kick out of being approached when she’s out and about.
“It’s fun for us to hear the stories of people volunteering and how they came to be a part of it,” she said.
Though some “Extreme Makeover” homes have been criticized for being too grand and expensive for the families that inhabit them, the Terpennings said organizers did a good job of planning a house they could afford and maintain.
The rooms with the “wow factor” during the TV reveal continue to be favorites, products of caring and creativity rather than outlandish expense. Josselyn, now 7, said her friends still want to come play dress-up in her fanciful bedroom. Joe, whose passion for Disney became the theme for his living space, still thinks his room “is wonderful and amazing, and I love it!”
The Terpenning episode premiered on Nov. 8, 2009, and has been rerun a few times since then.
“It still seems surreal that we were actually chosen, but I know it’s real because we’re living in the house they built for us,” said Shannon, who was whisked away with her family for a week’s vacation at Disney World while 1,500 volunteers, the TV team and Coventry Fine Homes spent a week transforming the site. “We’re just thankful for the gift that ABC and the businesses and the community gave us.”
James said the best part is continuing to hear from those who contributed their spirit, enthusiasm and energy to the makeover.
“So many people say it was the best thing that ever happened to them,” he said. “They tell us we made them realize they could really do something to help other people.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or mmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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