[BobbyB]

Whalers befriend teen with ALS, aid grieving family
BY VINCE ELLIS • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • July 6, 2008





It was a definitely a bittersweet evening for Bob and Pat Suvoy.
It was June 26 and the laughs were flowing at Joey's Comedy Club in Livonia.

The Suvoys were sitting in the audience and getting a rare chance to laugh and smile. They were still mourning the loss of their son Bobby, 16, who died in May after a two-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.

A portion of the proceeds from the comedy event were donated to the Redford Township couple, struggling under the weight of Bobby's medical bills.

Also attending the show were Natalie Shaver and Pete Krupsky, representatives of the Plymouth Whalers organization.

They were there because the Whalers, especially forward Chris Terry, have supported the Suvoys in their time of need.

Terry befriended Bobby a few months before he died. Terry didn't attend the comedy event because as a 20-year-old, he couldn't get into the club.

Instead he was in Brampton, Ontario, resting before he reports to the Carolina Hurricanes' conditioning camp on July 8. (The Hurricanes own his draft rights.)

Bob Suvoy said he would have tried to pull some strings if Terry had made the trip.

"I sent him an e-mail that we can get you in there if you want," Bob Suvoy said. "I would have paid gas.

"He went through it. He went through it with us."

Bobby Suvoy battled Lou Gehrig's disease for nearly two years, but he wasn't officially diagnosed with the particularly aggressive form of ALS until August 2007.

Bobby was a big sports fan. He loved watching the Plymouth Whalers, and his favorite player was Terry.

Shaver said in an e-mail that she helped arrange for the Suvoys to watch a game from a suite early in the season. Shaver says she started building a relationship with the family after that and arranged for the family to meet Terry at the March 15 game.

But a few days before the outing, Bobby took a turn for the worse and was bedridden. Shaver then made plans to visit Bobby with Terry before the game.

"I felt bad asking at first since usually players have their pregame routines and don't want to mess those up, but I knew Chris would understand," Shaver said. "He's one of the more mature players who has his head on straight with what is important in life."

Terry agreed and he signed some stuff, took photos and answered questions.

"Chris was a little nervous beforehand to do the visit and kind of wanted to just make the appearance to please me, but I could tell as the visit went on, he really enjoyed it, and we stayed a lot longer than he first indicated," Shaver said.

After that, Shaver and Terry visited the Suvoys' house a few more times. Terry also sent posters, photos and game programs.

The family sent Terry a text when Bobby died on May 6 -- almost a month shy of his 17th birthday.

Terry came down from Brampton for the funeral and attended it with Shaver. He was buried in Terry's No. 20 jersey.

"I really value that short time I got the chance to become such a good friend of Bobby," Terry said in an e-mail. "The time we spent meant a lot to me, a lot more than I think people think. I truly became a part of that family.

"Many people ask me about how I touched Bobby's life, but really it's more how he touched my life. He showed me how tough life can be and how much to cherish and love the people around you."

Contact VINCE ELLIS at 313-222-6479 or vellis@freepress.com.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...92/1217/SPORTS


Helping hand

The Suvoys are in the process of paying the medical bills incurred during their son's battle against Lou Gehrig's disease.



If you would like to help or get more information, call 734-453-8400 or e-mail natalies@plymouthwhalers.com.



You can also write to: Bobby Suvoy Donations, Attn: Natalie Shaver, 14900 Beck Road, Plymouth, 48170