A Queens minister and his family said prayers and sobbed tears of joy after TV’s “Extreme Makeover” home-renovation crew rebuilt their fire-ravaged house in a week and revealed it to them yesterday.
Hindu priest Winston Peter, 44, along with his wife, Hardai, their five kids and two other relatives looked stunned as Ty Pennington, the heartthrob host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” said, “Are you ready?” – then presented them with their newly refurbished digs.
“Thank you all so much!” cried Peter, as he stared at the three-story dwelling, which was hand-demolished, reconstructed, redecorated and furnished in seven days.
One of his kids was so overcome by happiness, he got down on his hands and knees and kissed the ground.
Dozens of the family’s delighted neighbors, as well as scores of onlookers who stood along the block, applauded and cheered.
And what a difference!
The large home, on 115th Street in Jamaica, had been severely damaged by fire in December 2004, and when the family’s insurance carrier cruelly dropped them six months later, they were forced to move back into the devastated home.
They lived with no hot water, only a propane stove for cooking, and had mattresses laid out on the floor for sleeping.
And for nine people, there was only a single working bathroom – making morning and evening times a big nightmare.
Adding to its woes, the family was exposed to charred wood, dangling electrical wires and plastic sheets covering blown-out windows.
“It’s not how someone should live – not in New York and not in winter,” said the show’s executive producer, Tom Forman, who gets 10,000 to 15,000 applications a week seeking makeovers.
Forman said he was deeply moved after friends of the Peter family sent in a videotape showing how they lived. He also learned how they had emigrated from Guyana, were very active in their adopted community, and had been happily living the American dream before the blaze set them back.
“A story where home renovation can make a difference . . . My heart went out to them,” Forman said.
Sal Ferro, president of Allure Home Improvements, the firm which donated its time and services, added:
“They came here for a better life . . . and I feel the system took advantage and didn’t serve them right,” he said.
The interior of the new 3,300-square-foot, six-bedroom, four-bathroom house will remain a secret to viewers for a few more weeks.
It will be revealed on a show to be aired in late April or early May.
While the house was being redone, ABC sent the family to Disney World.