Madelyn Connaughton, the 10-year-old whose Make-a-Wish wish was to see an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" house be built, might get to fulfill another wish before she and her family go home to Massachusetts tomorrow.
Though Madelyn has a mitochondrial disease and could have wished for almost anything through the foundation that helps sick children's dreams come true, she chose to meet the cast and crew of the TV show and wanted to "help a family build a house."
"Maddie's a really loving, caring person, and she loves to watch the show," her father, Norman, said.
Yesterday, builders had arranged for Madelyn to meet some of the show's stars and crew, and they also set up an opportunity for her to do a little construction work so she could say she really did help build the house.
But Madelyn's disease makes her extremely sensitive to temperatures, and the work her body has to do to fight off the chill of this January sapped her strength, Norman said. They had to go back to their hotel so she could rest and warm up, and by the time she felt better, it had gotten too late to return to the home site.
The family didn't know what the show and builders had in store for them today, but Madelyn got to meet the other show's star, hostess Paige Hemmis, who signed the hard hat Madelyn earlier received with host Ty Pennington's autograph.
Madelyn's brother, Nick, 12, said he's also having a good time, though he said he'd like to come back when it's warmer so he can go to the beach.
