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« Paige's Extreme Makeover Blog
The Gilyeat Family
Vroooooom! This week was FAST! And not just "fast" in the sense that
the week went smoothly, but "fast" in the literal sense of the word. I got
to drive FAST!
Ty, Eduardo, Johnny, Rib and I headed out to Kansas City, Kansas for the
first time in our show's history. We've been to Kansas City before, but
it has always been in Missouri. Although it was our first time on the
Kansas side, it was our third time with our famous builder, Kevin Green. Now, Kevin and his team really know how to do it right, from lavish parties
to tractor-trailers with Kevin's picture 20 feet high! Knowing we were in
his hands made us truly enjoy our week.
We surprised the Gilyeat family — Daniel Gilyeat and his four young
children. Daniel is a hero in every sense of the word. He is a great
dad, and made a huge sacrifice for our country when he fought in the war. Unfortunately that fight left him with only one leg — his HUMVEE was hit
by an IED during combat. You think that an injury like this might stop him, but Daniel is unstoppable, and his never-ending fighting spirit keeps him
going every single day. One thing that he has learned through this entire
process is that we can take nothing for granted — not any person, not any moment, not any day and certainly not any experience. He does his best to spread that message to everyone he meets. Not only is he an inspiration to his children, and inspiration to his friends and family, but he is also an inspiration to the men and women who fight so hard to protect our country. He sees his injury as an opportunity to help them and others. He is now an inspiration to all of us.
Because Daniel is so encouraging and so loved by the community, we had no problem finding hundreds and thousands of people to help us this week. I even got to bring in my Dad!
You are probably wondering why I would fly my dad out to this show all the way from California. Well, I needed reinforcements. Since Daniel loves working on cars, I knew that I needed to give him the best garage possible. I called the one guy that knows more about cars than anyone I know — my dad. Years ago, my dad was a race car driver (top fuel dragster named Soapy Sales), and since then, he has made working on cars more than just a hobby — it's a way of life. He was the guy who had the coolest garage in town, which would end up being where everyone hung out. He came out to Kansas City and helped me put together the best garage we've ever done, complete with a car lift, a neon sign, and every tool you could imagine. So if you look closely in the background, you can see my dad helping me every step of the way.
And, of course, I needed to do a little research in order to give Daniel the
very best. Part of the "research" I got to do for this garage was to head
down to the Kansas Speedway and get behind the wheel of a real race car. It was better than any amusement ride at any theme park! It was soooooo exciting!!! I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree as there is a little racing in my blood!
Overall, it was a great experience, and a great week. Having my dad there
the entire time was a treat, and building a house for someone who is so
deserving was truly an honor. Daniel Gilyeat — we salute you!
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Feb 8, 2008 2:08 PM
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I would like to thank Daniel for his bravery and let him know that I am so very proud of his courage strength and love of his family. I am a massage therapist and if there is any thing I can do to help the family in any way I would love to .
I have a son in the US Army and I am so very proud of all our military he is a true inspiration to all of us. I send him and his family my prayers and thanks,
Sincerely
Mary Aman
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Feb 10, 2008 8:32 PM
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I am an ex military wife (he left me for someone else!) and I can't believe this guy is divorced! How can someone leave a guy like this?? You need to be there for them not up and leave! Hey Daniel, if you are single.. lol but seriously, I salute you. God bless you and your kids. I have two kids myself and would do anything for them like you. You are MY hero! Look me up on yahoo and beauty4you2 if you'd like to chat. Take care
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Feb 10, 2008 8:35 PM
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Paige-first let me say you are one of my favorites on the show! You are sweet, sincere and caring. This family touched me so much, Daniel Gilyeat is one of the best fathers I have ever seen. He really and truly cares about his children and deserves nothing but the best for him and his children. For him to be a single dad is crazy!!!! Any decent woman out there would love to have him as a husband and a father to their children. I am so glad that ABC built him and his family a new home. Daniel is a true definition of an American Hero not only to all of us but kids.
God bless!
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Feb 10, 2008 8:56 PM
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I am watching this episode right now and am touched by this incredible hero and his strength and courage. Extreme Makeover could not have chosen a more deserving family. The team has done another awesome job. Daniel, please continue staying strong - you are a true definition of a hero. God Bless you and your family! jaime.cser@rcn.com
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Feb 10, 2008 9:04 PM
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I'm sure I am one of hundreds who watched this show ...and I am in awe of Daniel. Not only are you a hero to our country, you are a hero to me...as a single mom of five (7,9,12,21,23) I admire you even more.
In November I had surgery on my knee/leg after a car accident. My children are my strength and I am months away from walking on my own. I sometimes wanted to give up because it's so hard managing a house, being a good mom to my children and getting my leg to work. I have no other outside support. YOUR incredible strength and recovery have given me that extra push to get my knee into full working order even if that means pushing my pain threshold to the limits.
Thank you for your inspiring story. You are an incredible man....I would be blessed to meet a man 1/2 as awesome as you!
Take good care of those beautiful children
Cheryl
greeneyedgirl563@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/ebaymomto5
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Feb 10, 2008 10:02 PM
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WOW! I am speechless. We are truly blessed to have people like Daniel Gilyeat who is a True Hero and a wonderful father. We are also blessed to have a group like you guys who make dreams come true. This by far has been the best and most emotional extreme makeover. I wish Daniel and children all the best. They truely deserve it!!! God Bless!
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Feb 10, 2008 10:03 PM
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I am so blown away by this guy. I just want you to know that my wife and I were so moved by your story that we just made donations to HELPINGAHERO.ORG and NMCRS.ORG in your name. Daniel... Go forth and do great things, dude. HOOAH!
Sincerely,
MAJ D.W. Butler, United States Army (ret)
PS: Tell those lilly-livered pukes out in Berkeley to kiss your rosy dimpled Devil Dawg Bootie, and if terrorists ever aim a commercial airliner at them, they're on their own.
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Feb 10, 2008 10:03 PM
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I would just like to tell Daniel that I am very proud of him. He has overcome his challenges and became a stonger person due to them. You can tell his children love and look up to him. My children and I were watching and we salute you. My son thinks you are amazing and he hopes he can help others like you do.
Kristiey
Kris739104@verizon.net
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Feb 10, 2008 10:12 PM
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Daniel, you are the most beautiful amazing person I have ever seen, doing what you do. Your story touched me. I would love to talk more to you about your incredible story. You are a true hero. Thank you for defending our country. playgirl12001@hotmail.com
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Feb 10, 2008 10:13 PM
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My heart goes out to you and your family, Daniel. I have a son in Iraq, & know how difficult it is through his stories. I have become part of an organization called Homes for our troops (homesforourtroops.org)& we help build homes for severly disabled vets returning from Iraq & Afghanistan, based solely on donation. We are building a house in Viera, FL for SSG Russ Marek whose tank hit an IED and he lost his right arm & leg. I would like for you to become familiar with it & would enjoy meeting you to discuss it further. You are truly an inspiration to our project. We have built numerous homes throughout the US for such soldiers, and it has truly been inspirational. I think you would truly enjoy being part of this project & an inspiration to those who are like yourself. I life in Central Florida & would love for you and your family to come visit & take a trip to Disney. Please feel free to contact me: tbrady004@cfl.rr.com. God Bless you & your kids. Thanks for all you have sacrificed. Tess
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Feb 10, 2008 10:44 PM
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Marines are the best! First in to any combat to risk their lives. Daniel is one of the true heros along with all the men and women who have are still serving and have died for me and the rest of the country. Thank you, Daniel for being the Marine you are. Sumpri Phi!!! There really is true meaning with Daniel when it comes to a Marine. My grandfather was a Marine so just saying that Daniel is instilling something in his children that only a Marine can. Thank you Daniel and being a TRUE HERO!!!
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Feb 10, 2008 10:47 PM
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I just had to give Daniel a HUGE thank you for his sacrifice, his inspiration, his dedication and his courage. My husband just got back from Iraq and as I watched the show tonight with my 13 year old son and 7 year old daughter, we could not stop the tears as it reminded us of how grateful we are that my husband came back to us safely and uninjured. So many soldiers like Daniel have made great sacrifices and a couple in my husband's unit gave the ultimate sacrifice. I know a man of your caliber doesn't do this for your own glory, but you are truly a hero and I cannot thank you enough. As a mother of 3, I also commend you on being such a loving father. God gave you that second chance at life and He gave it to you for a good reason. I wish you and your children the very best. Sincerely, Lisa (a fellow midwesterner)
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Feb 10, 2008 11:12 PM
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Thank you cannot be said enough to Daniel for all that he has done for his country and his family! I watched his story and could not help but cry for I felt his emotional pain. I feel also for you being a single dad and trying to do the best thing for your children. I have not been through anything close to what you have been through but I would like to share my story with you. I too had a cross to bear in 2005. I was put in a situation where I needed to get my then 6-year-old daughter and myself out of the living situation we were in with her father. It was a very hard thing to do, moving back with my parents at 37 years old, but it was necessary. The stress of the situation was so bad that I suffered a heart attack in December of that year. Now a single mother, always working full time through it all, we still live with my parents and it is not any easier. Being strong for my daughter is my only option. What happened to me made me stronger than ever though and I know that God kept me here to make a difference in other people's lives too so that is what I try to do. I now speak to women publicly about heart disease and am currently writing a book. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be able to speak publicly but I know that I have to and God helps me overcome the fear somehow so when I am standing in front of all those people it just feels right. I now see that my heart attack was actually a gift from God. Daniel, I would love to connect with you because I think we have so much in common. I even have a Ford F150 but mine is a 2005 red stepside. I know you will be bombarded with people wanting to meet you but I would be so tickled to hear from you. My e-mail address is mamaramma@msn.com. It would be nice to share feelings with someone who really understands the loneliness and fear of reality and how to overcome it. God Bless you and your kids!
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Feb 10, 2008 11:27 PM
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I have just finished watching the show as I do every week. I have to say that this has been one of my favorite if not my favorite so far. As I was watching the show, I found myself crying right along with everyone. I have to say that Daniel is a truly amazing person. I admire everything he has acomplished and the sacrifice he has made to provide everyone in the U.S. their freedom right along with the other soldiers. Daniel, you are a true hero and I cannot express how much it means to see a man with such honor and passion for life and his family. As a single mother, I can only hope that there is a man of your statute that could be the kind of father to my daughter as you are to your kids. You truly are a special individual. I wish your family the very very best and God Bless You for all you have do and continue to do for so many!!
Sincerly,
Cassie Hall 
mckenziesmom911@comcast.net
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Feb 10, 2008 11:31 PM
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