Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. Mattie was approaching the end of his chemotherapy treatment, and it was the thinking that we would have the whole summer to intensely do physical therapy to regain some strength. I think if you had told me Mattie was going to die four months later I would never have imagined it at the time. I can bearly understand it now. As you can see in the picture, the whole cast and crew were in place for Mattie to do therapy. Anna (Mattie's physical therapist) was pulling Linda (Mattie's childlife specialist) in the wagon, and my mom was pushing Mattie, and Katie (aka Dorothy - for her lovely red shoes) was monitoring Mattie's IV pole. It looks like Mattie was having fun, and he was, but Anna was actually getting Mattie to use his legs and feet to try to self propel. I have to honestly believe that Mattie stretched Anna's imagination as a therapist. However, she quickly assessed him from the beginning and understood that the way to Mattie's heart was through play and creativity. She did not disappoint.
Poem of the day: The bridge by Henry W. Longfellow
And forever and forever,
As long as the river flows,
As long as the heart has passions,
As long as life has woes;
The moon and its broken reflection
And its shadows shall appear,
As the symbol of love in heaven,
And its wavering image here.
It is past midnight, and I am just sitting down now to try to put some words together for the blog. It has been another busy day of Walk meetings and tasks to be completed. I am very thankful to all our wonderful volunteers who are giving of themselves and are committed to the cause. It is understandable why people were compelled to help last year, especially when you saw that cute seven year old face battling cancer. But what motivates many of the same people to return this year, charged to make this event successful? It is an interesting question, which I had the opportunity to ponder today with my two friends, Margaret and Susan.
Margaret, as many of my readers know, was Mattie's first preschool teacher at Resurrection Children's Center. I met Margaret at a time in my life where I needed support and validation of my parenting skills, and Mattie needed the nurturing and safe environment that Margaret and Lana provided in the Pretend Room. It was a winning combination for both of us. Mattie grew, developed socially, physically, and emotionally, and I in the process developed a dear friend. Susan, is a former student of mine. However, over the years, we developed a friendship, and she had the opportunity to meet Mattie several times. Susan knew Mattie when he was well, and then through various visits in the hospital, experienced Mattie with cancer. Susan and Mattie got along well, most likely because they have many similar qualities, they speak their minds, are free spirits, are good natured, and also when they need to get your attention.... they do it effectively. I selected Margaret and Susan to oversee the Foundation Table at the upcoming Walk.
This afternoon, Margaret invited us over to her house. This was the first time Margaret and Susan met, and over tea and treats we had a great visit. Margaret knows how much I love tea, and somehow when she serves it on her china and you can smell the fragrant roses from her garden, it is a lovely combination and escape. Margaret, Susan, and I chatted for about three hours. Our conversation did eventually turn to discussing the impact of Mattie's cancer on the local community. I suppose I am so insulated from others, that I no longer see the impact that Mattie's death and our work with the Foundation are having on the community. Not sure that I don't see it, or if my focus now is different. Margaret and Susan gave me a glimpse at how lives have been changed, how priorities have been shifted, and how pediatric cancer has been placed on the forefront of people's minds. Needless to say they gave me a lot to think about as Peter and I try to prepare a greeting for Sunday's Walk.
Karen, my lifetime friend, sent me this word picture tonight. She created it on something called Wordle. She went through the blog and tried to capture salient words in our lives. I know you may not be able to see the words as clearly as I can from this picture, but through words and color she created an artistic representation of Mattie's life. It captured my attention and I wanted to share it with you!
I would like to end tonight's posting with a message from my friend, Charlie. Charlie wrote, "I am glad you had a productive day on Sunday and I hope you took some breaks as needed. It is so hard to believe that just a year ago we were coming up on the first Mattie Walk. He was still with us then and it is impossible to believe he will not be with us now. I do believe he will be there in spirit for you and for his friends. How could he not with so many who care about him, thinking about him and holding tight to his spirit in their hearts? As I read Dr Shad's email message I looked back at the logo and I realized that not only does it represent the sun but it also appears to be a bridge which is a wonderful symbol as well. A bridge to connect those who need with those who can help. A bridge over despair and sorrow to hope and healing. I wish you great success with the foundation and that it may come to be all those things to those who need and receive help. I hold you gently in my thoughts."
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