Bethesda Marriott Suites Provides Home Away from Home for Surgical Patients and their Families.

Man Behind the Mask Calls Hotel his Temporary Home

BETHESDA, Md. -- Donnie Fritts has Ameloblastic Carcinoma, a rare form of cancer that has resulted in the removal of his face and 20 surgeries over six years to replace it. All of these surgeries require several weeks of recovery time, but home is Calhoun, Georgia, far from his doctors at the National Institutes of Health. Where does a patient go in this situation? Well if you're Mr. Fritts and dozens of others like him, you head to the Bethesda Marriott Suites where special appointments and services provide a home away from home.

Mr. Fritts had surgery to remove his nose, top lip, upper palate, forehead, facial tissue and bone, as well as part of his brain. Over this six-year period, he has had to wear a surgical mask everyday to filter pollutants from the air, since he no longer had a nose to do that job. But his long journey is coming to a close as his new face is completed this week.

"We understand that guests like Mr. Fritts can have special needs because of their circumstances, so our hotel staff go out of their way to help out," explains Christine McDaniel, assistant general manager at the Bethesda Marriott Suites. "We've picked up prescriptions and special medical devices and delivered them to guests. Our shuttle drivers have driven guests to their doctor appointments or to the mall to pick up needed items. We go that extra step here because we understand that not all of our guests are healthy business travelers."

Rooms at the Bethesda Marriott Suites are 50 percent larger than average hotel rooms and are designed with marble bathrooms and distinct living and sleeping areas. In addition, all rooms have wet bars with mini refrigerators, microwaves and sink/bar area, giving guests the option to make a meal in their room, order from room service or venture into the hotel's Democracy Grille for a tasteful meal. The culinary staff has been trained in accommodating special diets, and food allergies.

The hotel also has laundry facilities, a fitness center complete with Pilates classes and massage services, an indoor pool and hot tub.

"We always stay at the Bethesda Marriott Suites because the staff treat us like family," explains Mr. Fritts. "I have had to undergo innumerable surgeries that require immediate recovery time, so flying home right away has never been an option. But the Bethesda Marriott Suites has provided a home away from home for me and my wife Sharon when we come to Maryland and have helped make my recovery time more pleasant. I can't imagine staying anywhere else."

For more information about Mr. Fritts' story, go to www.donniefritts.com.

The Bethesda Marriott Suites is located at 6711 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD. Visit www.BethesdaMarriottSuites.com or call 301-897-5600 for more information.