Lumberton couple's Big Apple getaway resulted in an even bigger surprise
A Lumberton couple was selected for a trip to New York City to escape the aftermath of recent natural disasters, but they didn't know the trip would result in a huge surprise from talk show host Jimmy Fallon.
Months after hurricanes Florence and Matthew, the McArthurs were still recovering from the damage that occurred to their home.
Despite all of the damage, the family was still hoping to save their house.
"We have a 12-year-old son who's watching us," Divya McArthur said. "He needs to know that he can still bounce back from this."
Many of their neighbors moved, but McArthur wasn't willing to leave the home that her grandmother built.
"One of her wishes was she wanted me to have it," McArthur said.
Divya and her husband, Terry, received the opportunity to escape to New York City from the nonprofit organization Operation Blessing. The nonprofit worked in partnership with Home Depot to sponsor the trip.
"Little did I know that we were the only family selected," said Divya McArthur.
McArthur thought that her family had been selected to visit New York City to see the sights and catch a show.
That show was "The Tonight Show," hosted by Jimmy Fallon.
"They think they just got tickets to see the show," said Fallon.
The family was shocked when the talk show host called out their names.
"Divya and Terry McArthur," he said "Where are they now?"
Fallon revealed that damage to the family's home would be taken care of. He announced that their roof would be fixed, their home would be repainted, they would receive new home insulation, the yard would be redone, and a Home Depot designer would refurbish their home.
"I didn't grasp it, really, until the next day," McArthur said. "And my phone could not stop ringing."
She says the renovations could possibly be done by Christmas.
