Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013 -- Mattie died 195 weeks ago today.

Five years ago TODAY this photo was taken. It is hard to imagine how very different life has turn out for Mattie and us. That particular day, Mattie met up with his "girlfriend" Charlotte. We took the children on a canal boat ride, pulled by mules in Georgetown. The children were so happy that school had just let out for the summer and we all thought we had a wonderful few months ahead. But actually only a month later Mattie was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.


Quote of the day: When things break, it's not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. It's because a little piece gets lost - the two remaining ends couldn't fit together even if they wanted to. The whole shape has changed. ~ John Green


My day started with a trip to the doctor's office. This particular doctor I see every three months. Needless to say, I was brought into an exam room and asked to change. An hour later the doctor waltzed in. Through Mattie's illness, I have learned the art of great patience with medical systems. They operate on their own time schedule and pace therefore my frustration or impatience won't move it any faster. Getting to this hospital, which is located in another part of DC, was treacherous! The traffic was out of control and it took me an hour to get from one part of DC to another. Needless to say, I was spoiled for a week in Emerald Isle. I saw NO traffic and NO congestion!

I then drove to Arlington, VA, where our Mattie Miracle post box is located. It was lovely to see that contributions toward the Walk were still coming in, and therefore I can easily state that this was our most successive walk both financially and attendance wise yet! I spent the rest of the day knee deep in post-Walk paperwork. Each registration, donation, and so forth needs to be processed and added to our address and email databases. All of this is very time consuming and I will be at this for days. Fortunately I processed pre-walk donations and all gift in kind donations before the actual walk. Otherwise I would be in total overload right now!!! 

I would like to share more Foundation Walk photos with you tonight! I entitle this photo, "frosted beauties!" These cupcakes were sold at the Walk. They came from Georgetown Cupcake. Marisa and Denise, our bake sale co-chairs, raise money each year prior to our event. With the funds they raise they purchase special products to sell on the day of the Walk. Keep in mind because of the Health Department regulations, we are UNABLE to sell any home made baked items! Marisa and Denise have developed a strategy over the years as to what works and sells, and clearly the strategy worked very well this year! 

Also at the Walk was a special magic show. Thanks to the "Magic Man," Bob Weiman (Mattie's head of the lower school), magic is an important part of each Foundation Walk. Mattie loved magic and he also loved his time with Bob. Bob visited Mattie often, both at home and in the hospital. Bob created a hand designed special magic bag for Mattie and each time they visited with each other, Bob would add an addition trick to the bag. Mattie had quite a repertoire during time in treatment. In fact, during the first Walk that was planned in 2009 by Mattie's care community, Mattie and Bob performed at this event together. Mattie had a great time, but in many ways magic was therapy for Mattie. It brought him out of his shell, it helped him engage with people, and he learned tricks most people did not know how to do. Therefore he felt special, unique, and talented. Not easy things to achieve when stuck in a hospital and feeling isolated from friends and family. At this year's Walk, Bob put together a group of Mattie's friends to perform at the magic show. In a way it was their fifth grade tribute to Mattie. In this photo, you can see Mattie's buddy Abbie performing a trick.  

Just like Abbie, Claire and Charlotte were also in Mattie's kindergarten class. All of whom have graduated from fifth grade and will start middle school in the Fall. Here Claire and Charlotte were performing "Mattie's Trick"..... The peanut butter booger trick! Bob introduced this trick to Mattie in the hospital, and therefore in Bob's mind this is really known as the "Mattie Trick!" It actually involves a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly and of course even mentioning the word "booger" to Mattie sent him right into hysterics!

Though you can't see the  magic show being performed in this photo, what I do love about this picture is the sea of ORANGE items the kids were wearing. Clearly many children walked around the track and earned something orange. You can also see kid tattoos and beautiful headbands (designed by our kid vendor, Ellie) on some of the girls!