By IMANI TATE

STAFF WRITER

Ariel Sweet of Pomona remembers entering hospitals and seeing young children sitting outside alone, looking lost and forlorn.

``These children were the siblings of disabled children confined to the hospital, but they were too young to go into the hospital room,'' lamented Ariel, 14, a sophomore at Diamond Ranch High School in Diamond Bar.

The image of those children stayed with young Ariel long after the death of her own severely disabled brother Aliah. That mental picture and their own personal experiences ultimately led to a mutual decision by the Sweet family -- parents Joe and Storme Sweet and young Ariel -- to do something, no matter how little it was, to ease siblings' suffering.

``It was a family decision to establish the Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation to help the siblings of disabled children because oftentimes they're not given the time, energy and attention they need,'' Ariel added.

The creation of the nonprofit foundation to grant wishes of siblings of seriously and catastrophically ill children also saved Storme Sweet's sanity. The appropriately named Sweets -- father Joe, a mortgage broker and former NFL wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers; Storme, the mother whose grief over the death of their son drove her to the edge of mental sobriety; and Ariel, the talented sister whose heart found it impossible to accept her brother's death -- established the Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation in late 2002 to sweeten the life of children whenever possible.

The nonprofit foundation was founded nearly 18 months after Aliah died on March 17, 2001. Its objective is identical to the Make A Wish Foundation, except it grants wishes to the siblings of seriously ill and severely handicapped children.

On Nov. 28, the foundation will hold a sports expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Quaker City Bank, 220 S. State College Blvd. in Brea. Information: (714) 990-3621.

Highlights of the fund-raiser will include guest appearances by NFL pros and greats from the St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and other teams as well as food, family entertainment and an opportunity drawing for travel and accommodations to Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston.

Aliah suffered from proteus syndrome, a rare condition that involves atypical growth of the bones, skin, head and a variety of other symptons.

Aliah's doctors couldn't determine the cause of his illness.

``All we knew was his receptive language was normal, but his expressive language was not developed,'' Storme said. ``He was trapped in a body that wouldn't cooperate. Despite everything, however, he was just a sweetie. A sweet, sweet spirit.''

Ariel's devotion to her younger brother went beyond their sibling relationship. He was her best friend. A prodigy, Ariel is a poet, singer, dancer, musician, public speaker, actress and honor student. She shared everything with him and rehearsed skits, poems, songs and speeches for her favorite fan before presenting anything to larger audiences.

Aliah's death catapulted Storme into a deep, deep depression.

``I was as crazy as I'm ever going to be,'' she admitted. ``I did not know my own name.''

Joe tried to make sense of life and his son's death but found it difficult. Ariel missed her brother, talking to him, sharing her joys and seeking comfort in his arms when she was upset about anything. Storme stayed sedated.

Then they remembered the image of those siblings sitting alone in hospital corridors and waiting rooms. And the often frantic nature of their own lives when Aliah had to be hospitalized or taken quickly to emergency rooms.

``When you have a medically fragile or chronically ill child, the sibling suffers too,'' Storme said. ``Not in the same way, but I think to the same degree as the sick child.

``We'd have to wake Ariel up in the middle of the night because we had to take Aliah to the hospital,'' she recalled.

``There were times when we had to leave a message at the school for Ariel because we had to go to the hospital or were in crisis with Aliah. He'd have seizures. Ariel would be in his room every day, but we'd have to rush her out of the house to a neighbor.

``Mrs. (Stephanie) Baker, Lorbeer Middle School's principal, was just wonderful. She sort of adopted Ariel and made sure she was OK. Life is like a rollercoaster for the kids who just never know what's going to happen when they have a disabled sibling,'' Storme said.

Joe, Storme and Ariel said establishing the foundation helped heal their broken hearts. So they made their foundation's mission ``mending the hearts of siblings of severely disabled children because hearts are not meant to be broken.''

Joe feels God prepared them for the spiritual mission of helping other children. Nearly three years later, it is still difficult to discuss Aliah's death, he said, but they now find solace stretching arms of love to siblings.

``It's certainly therapeutic when you're giving your time and resources to help other families overcome their tragedy, pain and suffering,'' Joe said. ``We want the siblings to realize they're special and we've given some thought to their welfare.

``When we help the siblings, we're also helping the parents,'' he continued. ``We're able to do something that prior to our involvement, they may not have been able to do.''

The foundation's first wish went to Roshawn Pleasant of Ontario, the sister of a severely disabled girl who was wheelchair bound. Roshawn wanted new clothes, so the foundation granted a shopping spree at Macy's in Montclair.

The second wish - a day at Disneyland - went to six of the eight children of Scott and Cindy Hampton in Rancho Cucamonga. Jenna, the youngest, has Down syndrome and a heart condition.

Excited and appreciative, Chrissy, Stacey, Philip, Abbie, Rachel and Karren Hampton - the qualifying siblings - took keepsake photos at Disneyland and sent individual thank-you letters in a large envelope covered with Disney cartoon characters' stickers.

The foundation officers are Joe, president; Storme, vice president; Ariel, spokesperson; and attorney Michael Frisby of Rowland Heights, accountant and lawyer Ash Narayanan of Irvine and homemaker Regina Sarinana of Diamond Bar, volunteer directors.

Applicants for wishes must be referred by a health-care professional. They must be age 6 to 18, have a sibling who is severely disabled or catastrophically ill with a life-threatening condition and sign a release for liability and publicity. Income is not a criteria. A referral does not guarantee a wish being granted. Each application is reviewed by the foundation board.

Additional information: Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation, 23441 Golden Springs Drive, Number 158, Diamond Bar 91765, (909) 868-9677.

Reprinted with permission from City News/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Ontario CA, November 2003.