When Lyndsi Hutson applied to be on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” she thought she was just applying to have a room of her house organized.
“I applied on New Year’s Eve of 2023 and then honestly, I forgot about it,” Lyndsi Hutson said. But then in May of 2024, she received a call from the show’s production company asking for an interview and if her family would be open to having their whole house redone — not just one room. “Obviously I said ‘yes, of course,’” she said with a laugh.
In August, right at the onset of Hurricane Debby, the Hutsons were notified that they’d been selected for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Lyndsi Hutson said, “There was just this wild noise outside our house, and then we went out and there they all were.”
In addition to crews from production and Taylor Morrison Homes, the Hutsons’ new home was constructed with the help of volunteers from several local businesses.
Photo by @theycallme.kathryn
Lyndsi Hutson, her husband Robert Hutson, and their four daughters — Emmalyn Hutson, Aubrey Hutson, Olivia Hutson, and Faith Hutson — are long-time Lakeland residents. When Aubrey Hutson was 7 years old, she was diagnosed with stage four rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare + aggressive cancer that develops in muscle tissue.
Over the last three years, Aubrey Hutson has gone through extensive treatment for the disease and has previously beat it twice, but late last year, she relapsed for a second time. Despite this, Lyndsi Hutson shared that she doesn’t want cancer to define her daughter, or their family. At the end of the day, Aubrey Hutson is just like any other 10-year-old girl who loves softball, Taylor Swift, and even has an affinity for Tesla Cybertrucks.
The Hutsons’ new home, located in Auburndale, was built by Taylor Morrison Homes, along with groups of local volunteers. As part of the show, First Horizon Bank also gifted the family $100,000 to pay for taxes + HOA fees, allowing them to focus on doing the things they love, like going to theme parks.
“The Lakeland and Polk County communities have been everything to us,” Lyndsi Hutson said. “They’ve always been the first to accept and show up for our family when we need it, and we’re so proud to be from here.”
The Hutsons’ episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will air on Thursday, Jan. 9 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, and will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.
To keep up with the Hutson family + Aubrey Hutson’s journey, you can follow them on Facebook or Instagram. For those who wish to donate, there is also a GoFundMe set up for Aubrey Hutson’s medical expenses.
