David Gilliam simultaneously worked several jobs to support his family in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter and EMT. He was one state test away from getting his instructor coordinator license when he suddenly died. As a result of her husband’s autopsy, Maryann learned that the basement of her family’s home was contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic spores. Her doctor advised the mother and her six children to vacate the house for health reasons. The community has rallied around the Gilliams; since David’s death, the family have lived with several family members, neighbors and friends. Currently they are living with Maryann’s sister.

In this episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the design team will not only be changing lives, but also saving them – the Gilliams’ doctor said they cannot return to the house because they will all get sick in that environment.

While the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition design team, local builders American Heartland Homebuilder and Lombardo Homes, contractors and hundreds of workers and volunteers are building a new house for the Gilliam family, the family will go on vacation to Hilton Sandestin Florida. On this episode, the house is built in the fastest time ever in the show’s history—in 53 hours and 54 minutes—which is half the show’s normal build time!