Home > News & Events > Feature Articles > Marrow donor gets extreme home makeover (07/07/2004)

Extreme Homecoming

Marrow Donor Receives New Home

Brook Imbriani, left, with her daughter Brooklyn, son Trevor Lee and mother, Pam Masker, are astounded at the look of their new home. Their home was rebuilt, compliments of the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is hosted by Ty Pennington, right. Brook Imbriani joined the Donor Registry of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) in the hope of saving a life. When Brook donated her marrow, not only did she save a life, but her life, too, was changed tremendously. The change began when the crew of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition landed in San Bernardino, Calif. The show's producers, touched by Brook's selfless act of generosity, greeted her with the news that she and her family would receive an extreme home makeover.

Giving Blood Led to Joining the NMDP Registry

A longtime blood donor, Brook was encouraged to join the NMDP Registry of more than 5 million potential volunteer blood and marrow donors and more than 30,000 cord blood units -- the largest and most diverse in the world.

Four months after joining the NMDP Registry, Brook's tissue type matched a patient needing a marrow transplant -- a baby who had acute myelogenous leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells).

Brook Donates her Marrow

She entered the hospital one morning, donated her marrow and went home that same day. Brook's marrow was then given to an 11-month old baby who, because of Brook's willingness to donate, is now an active 3-year-old.

Enter Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Earlier this year, Brook received an unexpected call from a producer at ABC television network asking if she would like to be a candidate for the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Brook couldn't believe the phone call was real -- until several weeks later when she heard Ty Pennington, the host of the show, calling to her from a bull-horn (a signature mark of the show) outside her home.

Donor Drive During Filming

During the five days of house rebuilding, another idea struck: Why not help more people at the same time Brook's house was being rebuilt? At the producer's request, Maggie Wong from the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in San Bernardino, Calif. was contacted. Wong organized a donor drive, resulting in local residents and ABC crew members joining the NMDP Donor Registry.

A New Home

After Brook was settled into her new home with her family, she was asked, "Would you donate again?" Brook did not hesitate as she replied: "Yes! It's a chance to save someone's life." Brook's home is made over, but her heart is just right.

Refer to your local ABC television listing for the show featuring Brook or at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Web site at: http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/

Image Caption:
Brook Imbriani, left, with her daughter Brooklyn, son Trevor Lee and mother, Pam Masker, are astounded at the look of their new home. Their home was rebuilt, compliments of the television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which is hosted by Ty Pennington, right.