Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2002. Mattie was seven months old. As you can see, I have Mattie on the floor, propped up with pillows. To keep him on the floor, a place he DISLIKED to be, I had to surround him with interesting things to do. With Mattie, I always traveled around with THINGS. He was a fellow that needed a bag of tricks. What I love about this picture though, was despite all the things I had around him, guess who he was focused upon? His eyes give it away...... he was watching me!
Quote of the day: Listen to the heart that is crying.... because you can't see the tears. ~ Mabelle Pillman
Tonight's quote is simple, yet very revealing. I know it most definitely captures how I am feeling today. If you listen to me, or most likely any parent who lost a child, you will hear the inner turmoil and the tears. Tears which may not be visible to the eye, but I assure you they are there.
I had the opportunity to meet my friend, Ellen today. Ellen, as my faithful readers know, is Charlotte's mom. Mattie and Charlotte were close friends, and one of my favorite stories and memories will always be Mattie proposing to Charlotte in my car, using a ring he won at the dentist's office. In many ways, their relationship was a bit more meaningful than what you would expect from a typical 6 or 7 year old. Mattie took his commitment to Charlotte seriously and in fact I recall one day in the Hospital when Mattie was quite ill and in bed, he asked me if it was possible or okay to love more than one person. What he was asking me was whether it was okay to be friends with Ann's daughter, Abigail, and still love Charlotte? Needless to say, it wasn't a question I was expecting, but we talked about love and how I felt like his heart was big enough to handle these two special friends in his life. He seemed to appreciate that response, because I believe a part of him was confused and he actually felt guilty. As if he wasn't being loyal and a good friend. What I find remarkable about all of this was despite how Mattie was feeling and what he was battling, thinking of others and their feelings were top priorities. Which is most likely why we related to each other quite well.
I received an email today from Kristen, Mattie's oncologist and my friend. She asked me whether I would consider posting her message below on the blog tonight. After reading through her links and watching this VERY touching video about Adam, who received a bone marrow transplant a year and a half ago, I felt very compelled to share this story with you. If you want to hear a story about hope, about the goodness in people, and how a donation one can made over ten years old, can change a life, then click on Adam's story link below! Gary, Adam's bone marrow donor, truly inspires me!
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This Sunday, December 5th the family of a former patient of mine will hold a Bone Marrow Drive at the Jane Lawton Community Center: 4301 Willow Lane Chevy Chase, MD from 2-4pm.
Inspired by their own "perfect match" who registered to be a bone marrow donor nearly 10 years ago for another patient, Adam's family is hoping help others in need of marrow transplant by holding a marrow drive.
For Adam's story, please see Adam's Be The Match foundation webpage http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/Adam or see the CBS morning news segment on Adam meeting his match http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/10/sunday/main6944423.shtml
Thanks so much!!
Kristen Snyder, MD
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Adam's story about the incredible gift!
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6944753n&tag=related;photovideo
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