Baton Rouge Advocate

A Dream Come True: Charitable foundation gives Prairieville boy a space-themed makeover for his bedroom

By Emily Kern Hebert

Joshua Scurria's dream was to have his own rocket ship in his bedroom. His other dream is to be able to walk one day.

The 9-year-old Prairieville boy was the recipient of a dream bedroom makeover by the charity Dream A Little Dream, founded by Baton Rouge resident Jenny Civello.

The custom bed modeled after the Space Shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the bedroom. A blast of exhaust painted onto the wall, bed sheets with brightly colored rockets and pillows shaped like aliens add to the look.

But one of the other highlights of the room isn't visible until after dark. A projector on the side of the bed beams stars onto the ceiling that move slowly around the room, thrilling Joshua.

The third-grader, who will attend Oak Grove Primary School next year, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy when he was six months old, his mother, Krista Scurria, said.

Doctors expected Joshua would not live past 2 years old, she said.

Instead, Joshua's condition has not progressed as rapidly. His participation in a drug research study stabilized the condition but did not provide a cure, his mother said.

The genetic disorder affects voluntary muscle control and leaves patients unable to walk. Although Joshua's condition isn't as severe, some patients can't control their neck or head or even swallowing.

Leading up to the surprise makeover, Joshua would tell everyone he met how he wanted to appear on "Trading Spaces," a popular cable television show where neighbors switch homes and, with the help of a designer, make over a room in each other's house.

When Civello met Joshua for the first time, sure enough, he told her about his dream of being on "Trading Spaces" and having a space-themed bedroom.

Joshua became the second child chosen by Civello to receive a dream bedroom makeover.

Through the Dream A Little Dream foundation, Civello creates fantasy bedrooms for children affected by illness, disease or an unfortunate family event.

The first child chosen by the charity was a 12-year-old girl in Cleveland, Ohio, where Civello and her husband lived before moving to Baton Rouge. The couple is originally from New Orleans.

Civello is looking for her third "dreamer" now.

The only other criterion is that the child be older than 6, Civello said, although she said she can always make an exception.

"I feel like anybody under 6 doesn't get it," she said. "A child under 6 wouldn't know what they wanted."

On her Web site, Civello describes why she created Dream A Little Dream.

"I have always felt that a bedroom is more than just a room," she writes. "It is their castle, their sailing ship, their rocket ship, their oasis of imagination, and a haven from their illness."

In Joshua's case, Civello pulled together plans for the makeover in just two weeks. In the future, she said, she'd like to have two months to order furniture and accessories and make plans.

Joshua and his family were traveling to Salt Lake City in late March for an appointment with a specialist, and Civello wanted the makeover to be a surprise.

Family and friends, including Civello's mother-in-law and sister-in-law who drove in from New Orleans, pitched in to complete the work in five days.

Civello said she found plans for building the bed online. Kyle Martinez, of Martinez & Sons Custom Millworks, donated his time and woodworking skills.

"So far, I've been very fortunate," Civello said. "People have donated money for me to be able to do the rooms I've done."

Civello ordered decals from a local store and she and a couple of friends painted and detailed the bed.

She purchased some of the bedding on eBay. A lot of the accessories came from http://www.thespacestore.com.

"Anything I could get my hands on in a short period of time that was space related I grabbed," Civello said. "I didn't bring one thing back."

Besides building a new bed, the team painted the walls of the room and refinished an existing dresser and desk.

They hung curtains. Civello ordered new toy bins. They hung new pictures and letters spelling Joshua's name.

Tara Delee, of Baton Rouge, painted a mural of planets.

The smallest detail, down to the UFO night light, matches the theme.

"You cannot do it alone," Civello said. "This is not something you can do by yourself. It takes a lot of people, a lot of time."

But, she said, the result is worth it.

"It's a very humbling experience and it's a very gratifying experience that you could have a small part in what this child is going through, and you could give them a smile," Civello said.

As expected, Joshua was thrilled with the makeover.

The stars and planets have captured Joshua's attention since his first look through a neighbor's telescope.

Joshua described the makeover as "cool."

"I was surprised," he said. "At first, I thought I was on "Trading Spaces."

He said the stars on the ceiling are his favorite part of the room.

"He slept really good that night," his mother said. "He was counting the stars to go to sleep."

In fact, Krista Scurria sent Civello a text message that night to her cell phone.

Civello still hasn't erased the message.

It says, "He is counting stars and said he saw a shooting star in his room … Since this wish came true he knows his wish to walk will come true too."