Single Mom Saves Child’s Life, Latter’s Parent Rewards Her with Stunning Present
- A small girl, Esmeralda Ramirez, was diagnosed with leukemia, and a kind stranger decided to take action.
- Brooke Imbriani's choice to donate bone marrow saved the little girl's life, and her mother decided to return the favor.
- Young Esmeralda's mom contacted the "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" team and nominated the Imbrianis for a surprise renovation.
Nancy Ramirez had the shock of a lifetime when her little girl, Esmeralda Ramirez, was diagnosed with bone cancer. Although things looked bleak, help came in the form of a complete stranger who volunteered to donate bone marrow so little Esmeralda's leukemia could be treated.
After the bone marrow transplant, Esmeralda made a recovery, and her mother was overjoyed. Nancy wanted to thank the person who had donated the bone marrow, but she had no idea who it was. So, she decided to enlist some help, turning to the presenter of the popular TV show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition."
Nancy Ramirez and Esmeralda Ramirez | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Brooke Imbriani's old home | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Usually, families would apply for a home renovation from the TV show, but Nancy's heartfelt request was too sweet to overlook. The team sprung into action, tracking down the donor and surprising them by stopping in front of their home and calling the family outside.
Building a New Home
The "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" team did some digging and discovered that the anonymous donor was a single mother named Brooke Imbriani. The family looked elated as they stepped out to greet the team in their driveway, caught entirely off-guard.
Ty Pennington, the host of the show, took a tour of the Imbriani home, seeing how they would start the renovation. Brooke led him through the house, and when they stopped in her bedroom, they discussed the bone marrow donation. Ty didn't give away too much, but he did ask why she signed up for it.
Brooke Imbriani and her kids | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Building the new Imbriani home : youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
It turned out Brooke had no idea that her donation saved a little girl's life. She explained that she didn't think twice about undergoing the excruciating procedure because, as a mom, she could only imagine how painful it would be to see her child suffering from leukemia.
The Start of the Renovation
Ty announced that while the family's home was being renovated, the TV show was sending them to Hawai'i's Big Island. When the family heard they were booked in for a week-long stay, they burst out in excited whoops, some exclaiming in overjoyed disbelief. So, while the family stayed in Hawai'i, their new house was being built.
By the time they came back, their one-story suburban home had almost doubled in size, and Brooke couldn't believe her eyes. The team had left enough space for Brooke's sister and her family to move in, and there was even a room for their mother, complete with an en-suite bathroom.
Brooke Imbriani and her family | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
The new Imbriani house | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Brooke Imbriani and her sister | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Brooke Imbriani's mother's new bedroom | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
After the big reveal, the "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" team had one more surprise in store for Brooke. Seeing as she had no idea that her bone marrow donation had already saved a life, Ty and the team introduced Brooke to Nancy and her daughter Esmeralda in her own newly-renovated backyard.
Nancy and Esmeralda walked out, and the mother embraced Brooke in a tight hug, thanking her for saving her daughter's life through a torrent of happy tears. Nancy added gratefully, "She was six months, now she's three years."
The Imbriani house's new backyard | youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Esmeralda Ramirez, Brooke Imbriani, and Nancy Ramirez | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
Esmeralda Ramirez, Brooke Imbriani, and Nancy Ramirez | Source: youtube.com/@ExtremeMakeoverHomeEdition
The two mothers embraced for a while, with Nancy thanking Brooke profusely for donating bone marrow. She even called Brooke an "angel." Brooke gushed that she never dreamed she would be getting anything back for her donation, much less a new home. She noted, "I would do it no matter what."
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