Curtis and Mollee Markins of Bayard are currently being considered for ABC's Extreme Home Makeover, but need the community's help.
The couple needs 50 to 100 letters telling ABC why people believe the Markins deserve a home makeover. Unfortunately, the campaign is on a very tight timeline and the letters must be mailed in one packet by Friday. Letters may be dropped off to Betty White at 805 Stafford St. in Minerva, one block east of the football field. Petitions are also being signed at Kishman's IGA, National City Bank and Rite Aid.
The Markinses live in Bayard with their seven children. Curtis works for AirTran at Canton Akron Airport, and Mollee is attending Brown Mackie College studying nursing. When couple married 12 years ago, they planned on two kids, a small house, and normal everyday life. After Mollee had multiple miscarriages, the couple would eventually become foster-to-adopt parents. They adopted two sibling groups - two sisters and a group of four brothers and sisters.
Two of the younger children have severe asthma and learning difficulties. Garrison's medical difficulties continue to unfold as he matures. Born addicted to heroin and weighing on two and a half pounds, he has had multiple ear surgeries, speech delay, pneumonia, Belle's palsy, respiratory issues, sickle cell anemia, and recently developed heart problems to add to his list of health problems, which often require doctor visits. His asthma frequently necessitates breathing treatments, which puts a strain on his heart. Emmy also has asthma and sickle cell anemia, which will probably continue to develop as she grows.
The Markins medical difficulties are not limited to the children, notes family members. Two years ago, Curtis suffered a severe seizure, totaled his car, but, by the grace of God, his life was spared. He continued to have multiple seizures and was unable to drive for almost two years.
As of last week, he has been seizure free for six months and has had his driver's license reinstated. For the past two years, however, Mollee or other family members have had to take Curtis to and from work. Many times that meant Mollee would take Curtis to work at 3 a.m., return home to get the kids off to school, go to school herself, pick Curtis up at work, go home to study, get ready for the next day, and do it all over again tomorrow. The seizures added driving and medical expenses to their family. The medication needed to control Curtis' seizures costs $350 a month.
Just as medical problems seem to multiply, so do the Markins' housing woes. They have lived in an older home in Bayard for seven years. They have no heat on the second or third floor, windowpanes are falling out due to dry rot and only one bathroom is functional. The deep-well pump quit working last December, and they had to revert to the shallow well.
As soon as they have the septic system pumped, it fills with water. They believe the deep-well pipe is broken under the cement floor of their garage and leaks into the septic system. They are able to shower, but unable to do laundry. The couple does laundry for nine at the laundromat or other family members' homes.
"Just seems like every time we think we're starting to catch up, something else happens," said Mollee.
Family members have encouraged Curtis and Mollee to submit their story for a long time, but when a recent news article stated ABC was searching for a family in Northeast Ohio, they decided it was time. The Markins appreciate all of the community's help.