Des Plaines girl gets her dream bedroom from Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish might not have selected Serena Villardita for her personality, but they could have.

The 12-year-old Des Plaines girl was bubbly and excited Friday while Make-A-Wish volunteers put together her new bedroom and she was the star attraction at a front-yard pizza party for her young friends and neighbors.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children who are seriously ill. Serena's condition is called Long QT, but to her it's "Long Cutie," says her mother, Debbie Villardita.

Because Long QT is an electrical malfunction of the heart, the family carries around a defibrillator that Serena has dubbed Fred. Fortunately, it's never been used.

Serena's new room is the first project of Broyhill Furniture in its campaign to give a room to 50 young people across the country through Make-A-Wish. For Serena, they donated furniture worth about $5,000 retail, plus more funds to Make-A-Wish Illinois Chapter.

"We reached out to Make-A-Wish to learn how many requests they had that were furniture-related," said Mark Stephens, vice president of sales and marketing for the North Carolina company. "We were really surprised - they have 400."

Serena's excited squeal sounded across the lawn when a surprise television set for her room was delivered during the party.

"She's so charismatic and so excited," said Stephens. "That emotion she showed with the TV, she was just like that all morning long. We had to keep her out of that room, she was so anxious."

Serena explained, "I've wanted a TV in my room for the longest time, but my mother said no till now."

Serena selected bedding with circles and polka dots in lilac, white and turquoise that set the theme for the room.

Then Darlene Kadar, a decorator with Darvin's Furniture in Orland Park, chose the lilac paint for the walls.

The loft bed and matching dresser, desk and bookcase with simple, clean lines are stained very dark.

"I like the idea of the loft bed," said Serena. "I can have sleepovers with my friends and we don't have to sleep on the couches downstairs. And I like dark colors. I really need a bookcase - I have a lot of books."

A special treat for the young violin player is a signed photo of Justin Bieber, a 16-year-old singing star. A Make-A-Wish volunteer obtained it through a local radio station, said Jessica R. Miller, communications manager for the organization.

Debbie Villardita urges parents to have their children tested for Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome if they faint or have a seizure during exercise or when startled or excited. She recommends the Web site stopsads.org.

"As you can see, she's very normal," said Debbie, urging her barefoot daughter to put on shoes. Serena cannot participate in activities like physical education, so a great bedroom is important where "she can relax and rejuvenate and have friends."