CLEVELAND — “Sweet Dreams for Kids” is a nonprofit that has given away tens of thousands of donated pajamas to children in the hospital around the world.
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After their own fight with cancer, the family behind the organization moved to the Cleveland area to continue to spread comfort and joy to others.
“We’re a good team aren’t we?” said Wendy Berezovsky to her daughter, Dalya.
There’s no doubt this mother and daughter love each other. They even dress alike.
“I like to be like my mom,” said Dalya.
Fifteen-year-old Dalya Berezovsky and her mother, Wendy, love walking their puppy, Allie, around the neighborhood. One year ago, the life-long Minnesotans moved to Beachwood, just outside Cleveland. Dalya has two older siblings.
“My son was going to school here, so we wanted to all be in the same city, and we just love Beachwood and the people are so wonderful and nice and friendly and there’s just a lot, a lot of opportunities here,” said Wendy.
The family’s nonprofit moved with them, too. Wendy started “Sweet Dreams for Kids” nearly twelve years ago, not long after Dalya’s fight with cancer as a baby.
“I started the organization because of her and she inspires me, but she really is the president of Sweet Dreams for Kids. She’s the boss.”
Over the years, more than 20,000 brand new pajamas have been donated to children around the world.
“When Dalya was in the hospital as a baby, whenever I looked at her in the hospital pajamas, it was just that reminder that she was sick. So, I just wanted to give something that makes the kids feel cozy and comfortable and makes them feel a little bit more at home,” said Wendy.
This week, they sifted through piles to pack up pajamas to give somewhere new and make their biggest Cleveland-area donation yet — to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
COVID-19 means many hospitals are unable to accept donations right now, but that’s not slowing down their mission.
Dalya loves giving back.
“It makes me feel good that I’m making other kids happy when they’re going through a hard time,” she said.
To this day, Wendy reflects on her daughter’s fight with Rhabdomyosarcoma. The muscle tissue tumor took over her upper lip. The battle began at birth and before she was two, Dalya had several surgeries and underwent chemotherapy and radiation.
“No one should have to go through cancer, but watching your baby go through it, really it was a living nightmare,” said Wendy.
Their Jewish faith and family keep them going.
Wendy’s mother and Dalya’s “Bawbee” is a breast cancer survivor.
“I really miss her,” said Dalya.
Since she’s in Minnesota, they keep in touch through daily phone calls.
Rainbow Babies says the donations will have to be quarantined before they can be distributed, but soon, the 75 pairs of pajamas will bring lots of joy.
“It will bring smiles to their face and more comfort to their hospitalization. So, we really, really, truly appreciate what you’ve done for us,” said Shari Racut, manager of Family and Childlife Services at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
These days, Dalya says she is happy, healthy and strong. Wendy calls her a “walking miracle “and is inspired by her positive outlook on life.
For more information on Sweet Dreams for Kids or to learn how to donate, click here.
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