Effort gives kids 'suite' havens

By Deborah Wilson, News Reporter
The Oakland Press
April 2, 2001

It's a whole new world for John Mazurek and his twin brother, Joe. John, 4, whose cancerous left arm was amputated in March, faces seven weeks of daily radiation treatments. But when he puts his head on his pillow to go to sleep each night, he's almost sure to have "suite" dreams. That's thanks to a nonprofit organization by the same name - Suite Dreams - started by Rochester Hills resident Kris Appleby and a group of her friends.

They wanted to help children with chronic illnesses by redecorating their bedrooms, giving the children a peaceful and cheery place to sleep. It is an idea that quickly took hold among Appleby's circle of friends.

"I wanted to be involved with this, even if I had to scrub toilets," said Danyelle Burkart, a Bloomfield Hills resident who is an advisor board member for the group.

Instead, Burkart shopped for John's room, which he shares with his twin brother. Suite Dreams transformed the space into a rocket ship.

"We had walls painted in a space theme, like a rocket ship," Burart said. "There was a window halfway down the wall with two steering wheels, giving the look of being in the rocket ship looking out." Now every time Burkart sees a rocket ship, she said she thinks of John, launching into a new life.

The University of Michigan Hospital gave John's name to Appleby and Kay Ponicall of Rochester Hills. They called the family and asked if the newly formed nonprofit organization could help.

"These people care," said Janet Mazurek, John's mother. "As a parent, you can feel that. It is amazing what Kris has done to his bedroom. It is just a dream. Joe was here. He saw what they were doing, but I was staying at the hospital and did not see it until we came home. It was unbelievable."

The transformed rooms, Appleby said, will help promote a healing environment. She said she hopes to have many of the furniture items and equipment donated, keeping the costs within a $5,000 range for each room. John's was the first room in the organization redecorated.

The decision to have John's arm amputated was not an easy one for the Mazurek family. His mother said so much of the nerve and muscle was removed that a prostheses is not probable. But, John is alive, she said, and probably will outlive her.

"In our hearts, we knew we were making the right decision, but it was difficult," Janet Mazurek said. "His name was submitted to so many churches all over the country; he had so many people praying for him. My son beat the devil."

John and his brother now are enjoying their new surroundings. Appleby, who has two children of her own, said that is what the group is all about - reaching out to people in need and using personal talents and skills to give them cheer and hope. And, Appleby's enthusiasm has spread. She expects branches of Suite Dreams to start in Texas and Washington, D.C., before the end of the year.

She said she gets her inspiration from the families of the children, who have incredible strength while facing undetermined futures. There is good news from John's doctor, too, who said the amputation removed all of his cancer. Now he and his brother are blasting off to slumber land and possibly the Cranbrook Science Museum, which donated a yearlong family membership to the Mazureks.

For more information about Suite Dreams, call 601-2200.