In November 2004, "Oprah Show" viewers were introduced to a single mother named Bernadette Robinson during the first-ever Wildest Dreams bus tour. Raising three children of her own as well as six of her brother's children, this former Army specialist had been struggling to make ends meet. The family lived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in a dangerous neighborhood, sharing beds and living in cramped quarters. Bernadette took the bus to work at her local Starbucks each day, always hoping to pick up extra hours to put enough food on the table, much less a Christmas gift or two for the holidays. Still, her bright personality was always in full effect, charming everyone she met.
Beloved by both her customers and coworkers, Bernadette got the surprise of a lifetime when the Wildest Dreams bus rolled up to her work and Oprah stepped out. After a round of shrieks and tears, Bernadette was given the day off and given a Christmas shopping spree for her children. The Robinson family was shocked and ever grateful for the holiday cheer, but the surprise was far from over.
After the shopping spree, Bernadette and her children attended a taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," where Oprah called the single mom to the stage.
"I could not help but notice that you seemed to be missing a few things around your house," Oprah said. "So, Bernadette, I want you to just fasten your seat belt. Ready guys?"
Bernadette's children looked on as Oprah continued. "You are getting full access to our dream decorator, Nate Berkus," Oprah said, as Nate came out from backstage. "Nate is going to furnish your apartment with everything you need, like a lovely new living room from Walter E. Smithe! And a brand new, top-of-the-line kitchen from Sears!"
Amid Bernadatte's screams and the audience's cheers, Oprah told her there was even more. "And not one, not two, not three, but 12 new beds!" she said.
By then, Bernadette's children were crying tears of happiness as well. That's when Oprah dropped a bombshell.
"There is a problem... Because when I saw all of those toys, I said, 'There is no way that all those toys and all of that new furniture is going to fit into your tiny apartment,'" she began. "So, I think we've come up with the answer to your prayers. This is what I think we're going to do: We are buying you a house!"
The entire studio erupted in applause. Watch the video above to see the priceless reactions and hear Oprah reflect years later on those memorable moments as they happened.