Mattie Miracle Walk 2023 was a $131,249 success!

Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation Promotional Video

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to us that you take the time to write to us and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful to us and help support us through very challenging times. To you we are forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically stop writing on September 9, 2010. However, at the moment, I feel like our journey with grief still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with us, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki and Peter



The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation celebrates its 7th anniversary!

The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation was created in the honor of Mattie.

We are a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. We are dedicated to increasing childhood cancer awareness, education, advocacy, research and psychosocial support services to children, their families and medical personnel. Children and their families will be supported throughout the cancer treatment journey, to ensure access to quality psychosocial and mental health care, and to enable children to cope with cancer so they can lead happy and productive lives. Please visit the website at: www.mattiemiracle.com and take some time to explore the site.

We have only gotten this far because of people like yourself, who have supported us through thick and thin. So thank you for your continued support and caring, and remember:

.... Let's Make the Miracle Happen and Stomp Out Childhood Cancer!

A Remembrance Video of Mattie

March 16, 2013

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2008. Though Mattie may look healthy, he was already diagnosed with cancer. Mattie was pictured with our resident Jack Russell Terrier, JJ. Mattie and JJ basically grew up together. JJ and his owner live several doors down from us in our complex. Though JJ wasn't Mattie's dog they had a very special bond. JJ responded to Mattie and really wanted his attention, love, and time to play together.







Quote of the day: A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty. ~ John Grogan


Peter and I had the opportunity to talk to our neighbor, JP. JP is the owner of JJ, our resident Jack Russell Terrier. JP shared a story with us and also reminded me of what happened along time ago between Mattie and JJ. One day when Mattie was outside in our commons area playing, JJ ran up to him. Mattie had his old sandals on. Honestly these sandals were so worn they couldn't be donated, but needed to be tossed in the trash. JJ was fascinated by Mattie's sandals and literally pulled a sandal right off of Mattie's foot and ran back home with it. We all laughed over this, but by the time we got to JJ's home, he hid the sandal from us. He clearly did not want us to find it. Needless to say the sandal was old, and I was frankly happy JJ took it as a play toy so that Mattie would wear his new sandals.

JP told me that after Mattie died, he was cleaning out JJ's toy basket and found Mattie's old sandal. So he threw it out into his kitchen trash can. The next morning when he woke up, JJ had knocked over the trash can and took all the trash out just to retrieve the sandal. That was JJ's message that this part of Mattie was needed and it wasn't meant for the garbage. In fact, after Mattie died, JJ was depressed. He did not want to eat and was lethargic. JJ would also come down to our door and sit on our doorstep hoping to see Mattie again.

Recently, JP said he was sitting in his apartment and JJ ran up to him with something in his mouth. What was it???!!! Yes it was Mattie's sandal. It is hard to believe that this sandal has out survived Mattie and even more amazing that JJ would still be attached to this item. I think it speaks to the loyalty, connection, and bond they shared with each another.

JJ attends our Mattie Miracle Walk each year and rest assured he is always recognized by one of our faith blog readers. Mattie always wanted a dog, and though he never technically had one, I am happy he did experience the special love that only an animal can provide. In Mattie's case he had the love of Patches as well as JJ, "man's best friend!"
 

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