Sunday, November 3, 2013

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. This photo always gets me to smile. First of all it was snapped around 6 in the morning when we had very little to smile about. We were in the pre-op area of the hospital. Mattie was headed to his first limb salvaging surgery (which was a ridiculous 12 hours, until we were able to see Mattie). Needless to say we were all on the edge that day. Despite all the fear and stress we were feeling, Peter tried to take Mattie's mind off of the surgery. So as you can see they both put their hair caps over their heads. To me they looked like astronauts in the hospital! Mattie also got a kick out of the fact that Peter got suited up to go into the operating room with him. In all reality, Mattie was remarkable, brave, and trusting that we were all doing the right thing to fight his cancer.  


Quote of the day: The planting of a tree, especially one of the long-living hardwood trees, is a gift which you can make to posterity at almost no cost and with almost no trouble, and if the tree takes root it will far outlive the visible effect of any of your other actions, good or evil. ~ George Orwell

Peter and I started our day by visiting Mattie's new memorial tree at his school. As many of my faithful readers know, Mattie's oak tree, which was planted in May of 2010, died in September. After much thought, we selected a Yellowwood tree to replace the Oak tree. I know very little about Yellowwood trees, but we ultimately selected it because it flowers in the spring, it is unique to the school's property, and it turns a beautiful yellow gold color in the Fall. Gold is the official color of childhood cancer and September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. So the Yellowwood seems like the perfect new tree to symbolize Mattie's life. Peter and I have seen the lovely plaque by Mattie's tree before but this big rock was a new addition. I have no idea where it came from, but I know Mattie would have loved it. Mattie loved rocks and collecting them!

The Yellowwood is about 15 feet tall. We imagine it is about three years old and literally it was the same height of the tree that was just removed. When the oak was planted in 2010, it was much smaller. Like my height actually. So it was quite a lovely surprise to see a more mature tree planted. Peter and I spent some time decorating the tree. I removed all the items from Mattie's previous tree and placed most of them now on this Yellowwood. I was very happy to see a gator bag around the tree and we located the school's hose and really drenched the tree and filled up the gator bag, which will slowly seep water into the base of the tree.

Here is a close up of some of the beautiful butterflies hanging on the tree. Linda, Mattie's child life specialist, featured these butterfly ornaments at the Foundation's Walk this year. Kids got the opportunity to decorate these butterflies and on Mattie's 4th anniversary, Linda visited the school and hung these decorated butterflies on Mattie's tree. A very thoughtful and meaningful gift to the tree and for us!

The tree has hotwheel cars on it, toy airplanes, Lego pieces, a beautiful hand crafted birdhouse (in the shape of an acorn, with a bird's nest inside of it) and a wonderful wind chime. The tree is back to being the glimmering and twinkling tree that it once was.

After our tree visit, Peter and I spent the rest of the day at home in Mattie's room. We worked for about six hours painting. We did not finish, but I am hoping within the next day or so, I can finish the room! Painting itself is hard work, but given the nature of what we were painting, it makes it ten times more difficult.