Monday, September 26, 2011Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008 in Mattie's hospital room. Mattie's technology teacher, Mary, brought him this wonderful Mac computer that his school gave him to use during his cancer battle. Mattie was thrilled with Mary's gift and felt very special to have his own computer. Each time Mary came to the hospital to visit Mattie and give him a technology lesson, he used his computer. Notice however that Mattie was using the mouse with his left hand. Mattie was NOT left handed. But the tumor in his right arm was so huge and caused him such great pain, he compensated by becoming very skilled with his left hand and his feet.
Childhood Cancer Facts of the Day: 10-20% of children are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (DeMaso & Shaw, 2010).
I received a message from Mattie's oncologist and our friend, Kristen. One of her pediatric patients died from a battle with Ewing's Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. In honor of his death, his parents created the Go4theGoal Foundation and on each September 27 (their son's birthday), they sponsor a DRESS IN GOLD DAY. I admire their creativity and desire to help children battling cancer. In honor of their cause consider wearing GOLD tomorrow.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dress in Gold on September 27 in honor of "Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day" sponsored by the Go4the GoalFoundation.
Go4theGoal Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization founded in 2006 by Dr. Richard and Beth Stefanacci, soon after their oldest child was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Go4theGoal provides children undergoing cancer treatment and their families with financial assistance, runs fun hospital-based programs, grants special wishes and supplies Apple iPads, iPods and MacBooks to children and pediatric oncology units in over 20 hospitals across the country. Since their son's death in 2007, G4G has funded over 500k in innovative research for Ewing's Sarcoma. For more information about the dress 4 pediatric cancer day project, go to....
http://www.go4thegoal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=41-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My mom and I began our day doing our 3.5 mile walking routine. On route to the track, I was greeted by this precious sight. A baby deer following its mom right in the middle of the road. Mattie would have gone absolutely hysterical with this sighting! I will greatly miss the LA Cappuccinos and the greenery of the hills that surround my parent's home. Somehow being so close to nature like this is very special for both Peter and I. 
We had another full and last day in Los Angeles today. Peter and I are packing up now and head home to DC tomorrow morning. One of the final pictures I leave you with from LA is the living room window of one of my parent's neighbors' house. Some of you may recall this window last year, since I posted a night picture with all these jack o'lanterns lit up in October of 2010. This neighbor does not have her display a glow yet, but somehow these pumpkins just capture my attention. I must admit that I sit back and try to imagine what the collector of these jack o'lanterns is like and wonder how this collection even got started and how long it has taken her to accumulate such a display. At the moment I have more questions than answers, but one thing is quite clear, people in Los Angeles start decorating for Halloween quite early!
No comments:
Post a Comment