"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Rebuilds Home in East Setauket

Kathleen Lutz thought her family was going to enjoy a typical day at the ballpark watching a baseball game. Boy, was she was wrong.

Sal Ferro, owner of Alure Home Improvements, surprised the Lutz family with the news on the Jumbotron at last Sunday's Yankees-Mets game at Yankee Stadium: TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" would be rebuilding their aging home.

And changing their lives.

"It was absolutely shocking," Kathleen Lutz said. "I almost fell on the floor."

She is one of 18 adopted children, including six children with Down syndrome between the ages of 21 and 25, in the Lutz family. Her parents, Grace and John, had found they were unable to have any children of their own. But when Grace and John Lutz passed away, responsibility fell to Kathleen to care for her siblings with Down syndrome. She quit her job to be their full-time caretaker, since moving them to a group home or similar institution was not an option.

When Kathleen was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, her brother John Jr. left his own career to care for Kathleen and his six siblings with Down syndrome.

Now that Kathleen's health has improved, she and John Jr. live in the family's home on Ringneck Lane in East Setauket to care for their siblings. The family enjoys cooking and playing games, and loves to sing and dance together. However, the deteriorating condition of their six-bedroom home – which their parents originally bought brand new in the 1950s – has become an issue.

"It's aging very badly," Kathleen said. "Things that were broken were just patched up. When it rains, it pours in the basement."

In the neighborhood, residents are happy for the Lutz family.

"I'm glad that someone who deserves it is getting it," said Barbara Alt, who lives across the street and described the block as "very quiet and people friendly."

Local resident Jenny Savage described Kathleen Lutz as a kind person.

"I think it's definitely the right people," Savage said. "Someone who continues taking care of this family of all [adopted] children shows a real loving person."

Alt said the show's management team has made every effort to make the neighbors more comfortable while the home is being built.

"I don't really expect it to be a problem," she said. "They came around and we met the people who were involved. No one who doesn't live on the block is allowed in."

When Ferro and his team heard about the Lutz family, it was nearly a no-brainer.

"This family is very special to us," he said. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am...to support this family."

Over a thousand volunteers have signed up to help Alure complete the rebuild in five days.

"We can only lead the build," Ferro said. "We cannot do it ourselves. The community has been amazing."