posted February 18, 2008 11:03 PM         

This little boy grew up to be the most awesome human being and is now 19 years old. He has the most wonderful personality, is extremely intelligent, outgoing, and *very* talented musically. He is in a wheelchair but he is a member of his college's marching band and goes to the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

His name is Patrick Henry _______ ? (I can't remember his last name)

The story was just so awesome!!!!

He said he really doesn't have a "disability", he has an "ability" to "see" people for who and what they are, and get to know them for who they are *inside*, instead of how the rest of the world judges each other from the outside (those who are *not* visually impaired). B/C people see him in a wheelchair and automatically judge him, without even getting to know him. People see that he is blind and automatically judge him without getting to know him.

What I learned from him is that he has a much better personality, outlook on life, and greater intelligence than people who have no physical disabilities!

He is awesome!

posted February 18, 2008 11:05 PM         

He was just the cutest little baby!

posted February 19, 2008 10:08 AM         

Hughes family talks about their new home.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080217/VIDEO03/80217023

More videos about Patrick Henry Hughes at this site as well.

UPDATED: 10:00 PM
Louisville 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' airing brings tears, cheers

Patrick Henry Hughes sat listening to tonight's episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" featuring himself and his family.

His father, Patrick John, leaned over throughout the program, often wiping away tears as he described scenes from the ABC show visible on seven projection screens mounted at the front of the sanctuary at Highview Baptist Church.
The 19-year-old, who was born without eyes and uses a wheelchair because he is unable to straighten his limbs, could hear the two-hour program that captured the labor of love that hundreds of locals participated in this past November.

More important, he could feel the love from the 1,900 audience members who had gathered for the invitation-only viewing party to watch the show on the 9-by-12-foot projection screens and six 36-inch televisions.

"It's really neat all the people who came out here to watch (the episode)," Patrick Henry said after he and his family -- his father, mother Patricia, and brothers Jesse, 17, and Cameron, 12 -- rolled up to the church in a stretch limousine provided by Xtreme Transportation and received a red-carpet welcome.

"We thought it'd add a nice wrinkle to the whole event," said Elite Homes President Joe Pusateri, who had stuffed a bandanna in his pocket in anticipation of the emotional evening.

"I'm really still kind of overwhelmed with how big this is," Pusateri said. "It's just amazing."

Representatives from the nearly 270 participating companies, including subcontractors, suppliers, food companies and financial donors, snacked on Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Papa John's pizza and cake from The Bakery.

Before the show began, they mingled in the lobby, listening to a brass quintet from the Louisville Orchestra as they reconnected with people they had worked alongside during construction of the Hughes' Buechel Bank Road home, which was built in 98 hours and 15 minutes.

Some sat in the sanctuary where a DVD of media reports and articles documenting the build played on a continuous loop.

Shortly before 8 p.m., Pusateri took to the stage and gave several acknowledgments that prompted standing ovations for the family and several of the key players who led the project.

Then, the show began. When star designer Ty Pennington announced, "This week we're here in Kentucky," the audience erupted with cheers.

"It seems like it's taken forever to get to this day," said Rocky Pusateri, vice president of Elite Homes. "Most of us knew the story of the Hughes family, but now we can say we know the Hugheses."

Glancing around the sanctuary, Pusateri added, "This is a phenomenal culmination."

posted February 19, 2008 02:54 PM         

Thanks for finding that article! That is awesome!!!

yes it is correct that he was born without eyes, I mistakenly wrote that he was born blind.

Actually, Hippichick, Home Makeover has been on for years and they have helped dozens of families all across the nation for years. They do choose families who have had intense hardships.

If you would have watched the show, you would see that this boy could not "get up over and over again" as he is wheelchair bound and was living in a house that was very restricted. his parents have worked long and hard for him; his Dad sleeps only 4-5 hrs a night at the most.