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On Easter Sunday 2005, ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition aired an especially poignant episode. Five children, ages 14-21, from the Higgins family were orphaned. A couple from their church, with three children of their own, took them in. The result was 10 people living in cramped quarters.

The show finds families with horrible living conditions and heroic natures who are flourishing despite the hardship. Then the family is whisked off to a vacation, the house is razed and rebuilt, and ends with the presentation of the house to the always overwhelmed family.

The rebuilt home is always astonishingly beautiful and completely furnished. In the Easter Sunday special, the rebuilt home had nine bedrooms, including one for each child. The show also paid off the mortgage.

The Higgins' happy ending did not last. The family that took them in asked them to leave the beautiful nine-bedroom home because it did not belong to the Higgins.

http://tv.netscape.com/story/2006/06/29 ... is-family/

How can people sink so low?

What the f**k are their hearts made out of, stone!? No, don't answer that, they DON'T have any!

The depths in which some people choose to sink are like a bottomless pit.

What a shame I can't say a few well chosen words to them in person!

Lots of these types of internet stories turn out to be false. Hopefully this is one. I've always wondered about how these poverty-stricken families pay the property taxes on their new million-dollar homes, though.

Accountable wrote: Lots of these types of internet stories turn out to be false. Hopefully this is one. I've always wondered about how these poverty-stricken families pay the property taxes on their new million-dollar homes, though.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8973501

MSNBC is a relatively credible source, and a google search on the keywords Extreme Makeover Home Edition Higgins produces many results that mention a lawsuit. Unfortunately, this one appears to be true.

I remember hearing about this story. it is really sad when people can be so selfish and inconsiderate. It is too bad that the house could not have been put in the name of the kids...as the oldest was of age, at 21!

Did the article mention why it wasn't??

Well one good thing, the Higgins get to take their case in front of a jury. Hopefully they might get something out of all this after all.

nothing really shocks or surprises me anymore, is that an age thing?

buttercup wrote: nothing really shocks or surprises me anymore, is that an age thing?


Yeah Buttercup, I think it is.

I am *always* aware of not becoming more cynical as I get older. But it's hard when you read about A**HOLES like these people, isn't it?

I remember watching that one, one of the few times I ever have. That is sad.

It seems to me that the family that took the children in, accepted the home makeover and then got rid of the kids have a lot to answer for. I certainly hope that they get what is coming to them in court. After that - I sure hope that Karma reaches out and bites them in the big fat butt!

I am a bit confused as to why the kids are suing the T.V. show, though. One must assume that in the future, when setting these things up, the show will be a bit more diligent in making sure that the homeowners sign some sort of paperwork to assure that the people for whom the "gift" was intended have full use of it.

LilacDragon wrote:

I am a bit confused as to why the kids are suing the T.V. show, though. .


I presume it's because had their home not undergone such a radical makeover, they would still have security and a home, (such as it has now turned out to be), instead of suddenly being left to fend for themselves.

Erinna1112 wrote: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8973501



MSNBC is a relatively credible source, and a google search on the keywords Extreme Makeover Home Edition Higgins produces many results that mention a lawsuit. Unfortunately, this one appears to be true.
Those bastards.

It does sound very harsh, but maybe there's more to this than we know. Were the family taken in for a short period of time to help them through the early stages of grieving?. If so, maybe the family that took them in felt that their short-term assistance had been transformed by the TV show into a permanent arrangement.

If the family were good enough people to take in 5 orphans, they wouldn't change just like that surely. There must be something else going on.

Uncle Kram wrote: It does sound very harsh, but maybe there's more to this than we know. Were the family taken in for a short period of time to help them through the early stages of grieving?. If so, maybe the family that took them in felt that their short-term assistance had been transformed by the TV show into a permanent arrangement.

If the family were good enough people to take in 5 orphans, they wouldn't change just like that surely. There must be something else going on.


Uncle Kram, I'm glad you see the good in people.

But these folks could clearly have had an ulterior motive all along. I for one believe they did.

How 'bout you guys?

cherandbuster wrote: Uncle Kram, I'm glad you see the good in people.

But these folks could clearly have had an ulterior motive all along. I for one believe they did.

How 'bout you guys?
Well they couldn't have forseen a TV makeover. I never rush to judge in the absence of ALL the details. They may well have had an ulterior motive and it's shameful if they did. Just seems such a U-turn

Sudden affluence changes lives. Possibly the "guests" got more comfortable than the hosts were willing to tolerate?

Maybe ABC should do another episode and build the Higgins a brand new house. Better than the last one. Would be good publicity for them.