Friday, November 2, 2012

Friday, November 2, 2012 -- Happy 3rd Birthday Mattie Miracle! ---

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2007. The Halloween before Mattie was diagnosed with cancer. It seemed appropriate that I selected this photo tonight since this is our face of Mattie Miracle. I snapped this picture of Mattie in a pumpkin patch of Butler's Orchard. This Orchard was one of our favorite Fall Festival locations in the area! Mattie had just picked this pumpkin off of its vine and the whole color ensemble spoke to me. Five years later this picture still speaks to me, it captured a happy family outing on a beautiful October day.


Quote of the day: A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him. ~ David Brinkley

Though our Foundation has a Facebook page, I am not the one who maintains or checks it. Which is ironic, since clearly I am into electronic communications. I write a blog each day, which speaks to hundreds of people daily, and yet Facebook hasn't caught on with me. I think there are many reasons for this. Nonetheless, it is thanks to Facebook, that Peter and I were oriented to the significance of today's date. This morning the Foundation's Facebook page received many postings wishing us a "Happy Birthday." We appreciate all of these good wishes.

It is indeed true, on November 2nd of 2009, only two months after Mattie's death, the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation was incorporated into the state of Virginia. Most non-profits do not get incorporated that quickly, but thanks to the help of instrumental members of Team Mattie, this became a reality.

Somehow there is something symbolic with the fact that our Foundation's birthday falls on All Souls' Day. All Souls’ Day is a day of prayer for deceased souls. Many Christians visit cemeteries where their loved ones are buried on this day. I do think it is interesting to note that this festival or day started from a belief that the deceased ones who have not ascended to heaven come back to have meal with their family on November 2 every year. Naturally this notion has evolved over time, and now it is considered a day of remembrance. Yet I do find it interesting, and beyond coincidence, that my mom wrote to me yesterday with a vivid dream she had in which Mattie was with her and holding her hand. That was on November 1st, All Saints Day, and last night I had a dream in which Mattie was healthy and we were at a beach house where he was playing with his friends. Two vivid dreams in two days (on two very meaningful spiritual days in the Catholic religion)! As I told my mom, she was visited by Mattie, and I suppose I need to give myself the same advice.

Being that it is the Foundation's birthday, it seems appropriate to acknowledge that in three short years the Foundation has accomplished many, many things!!! The top 20 are......

1. We have contributed over $50,000 to Georgetown University Hospital, and have endowed the Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund at the Hospital.
2. We have helped to create a Child Life Specialist position at Georgetown University Hospital (two years in a row).
3. We fund an on-going pediatric nurse support group at Georgetown University Hospital.
4. We fund and supply a Free Snack Cart for in-patient pediatric families caring for their children at Georgetown University Hospital.
5. We helped to create HR 262 -- introduced in the House on May 13, 2011 by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Raises awareness,  improves education, and enhances research and treatment for the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families.
6. We helped to get H.R. 3015 introduced in the House on September 22, 2011. Added language to improve and enhance research and programs on childhood cancer survivorship, and for other purposes.
7. We helped to get S. 1613 introduced in the Senate on September 22, 2011. We included language in the bill to improve and enhance research and programs on childhood cancer survivorship, and for other purposes.
8. We have hosted an Annual Mattie Miracle Cancer Awareness Walk in Alexandria, Virginia three years in a row!
9. We are on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 
10. We have hosted joint events with Girl Scout Troop 3989 at Georgetown University Hospital.
11. We produce monthly newsletters, a daily blog, have a website, and have been interviewed for articles in The Washington Post, and appeared on Fox 5 News.
12. Served as the Community Based Learning Project for both an undergraduate and MBA course at The Georgetown University McDonough Business School (Fall 2011 and Spring 2012).
13. Testify before physicians annually at medical ground rounds regarding the impact of cancer on a child and the family.
14. Hosted a 5% sales day at Whole Foods in January of 2012.
15. With the help of Girl Scout Troop 3989, the Foundation delivered 100 teddy bears to Georgetown University Hospital.
16. Held the first childhood cancer psychosocial symposium on Capitol Hill in March of 2012.
17. Coordinated the 2nd Annual Post-Halloween Candy drive to stock the snack cart at Georgetown Hospital.
18. Have an upcoming presentation at Chicago School of Professional Psychology on November 7, 2012.
19. We are invited speakers at Palliative Care Conference held at The Hospital for Sick Children.
20. We will be hosting the first childhood cancer psychosocial standards of care think tank in February of 2013.

As David Brinkley's quote aptly points out about success..... success is what you do with the bricks that are thrown at you. In our case, Mattie's death was quite a large brick, a brick we are still figuring out what to do with. Yet this morning's Facebook greetings reminded me that with this large emotional brick, we have without a doubt built something in three year's time.

 

Happy Birthday Mattie Miracle!