ATHENS, Vt. -
An Athens, Vermont family thought their prayers had been answered when they were chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
But as the TV crew was packing up, the family says the real reality hit: they might not able to afford their new, dream home.
Lou and Sarah Vitale say their home changed their lives including for their three kids, especially for their now seven-year old son Louie Junior.
"He just started to thrive in ways we didn't think that would have been possible," say Lou Vitale.
Louie has a so far undiagnosed central nervous system disorder. That makes moving, eating, and breathing difficult.
Lou and Sara say their old house was falling apart and making Louie sick. That's why they decided to apply for Extreme Makeover.
"We were willing to try anything," says Sara Vitale.
In 2007, there was a knock at the door and the nightmare, which was their old home, was over.
"It was total relief. Every emotion you can imagine," says Sara Vitale.
As Ty Pennington and his team went to work, the Vitales say they already had concerns.
"The overwhelmingness fades and you start thinking about reality and you start talking about what's going to happen when it's done," says Lou Vitale.
That was briefly forgotten when their new home was revealed.
"Never forget that day," says Lou Vitale.
"That was surreal," says Sara Vitale.
2,300 square- feet with special features, including humidity control to help keep Louie healthy.
But as the TV crew packed up, Lou and Sara say reality sunk in.
"What are we going to do about the taxes? We're, this is going to be trouble," says Lou Vitale.
That's because the Vitales say the mortgage on their old home was not paid off. They say they now realize that's only sometimes done as part of the show.
"We were totally naive. We were totally naive," says Sara Vitale.
The old mortgage and the mounting bills added up. Then about a year ago Lou lost the business he owned.
"We got whacked with another big tax bill and July we got the first foreclosure notice," says Lou Vitale.
Now the family is two months behind on the mortgage. If they miss it again, they say they could go into foreclosure.
"It feels like an insult to all the people that gave their heart and soul to allow this house to be foreclosed on," says Sara Vitale.
"Yeah right now we could really use the help," says Lou Vitale.
That's why the Vitales signed up for "Go Fund Me," a website where people can donate to a cause. So far it has raised more than $2,500 to help the Vitales get caught up on the mortgage and bills.
"We can't see ourselves ever giving up the fight for this house," says Sara Vitale.
While the family says they have thought about what they would do if they lost their dream and the home built for Louie, they say they have no regrets.
"All in all, I would do it again in a heartbeat," says Sara Vitale.
"Yeah I wouldn't change a thing," says Lou Vitale.
The Vitale's next mortgage payment is due in about two weeks. And it looks like that should just barely be okay.
But they are still behind and another miss and they could be in serious trouble.
Click here for a link to the "Go Fund Me" page.
