Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. Mattie was in the child life playroom at the hospital and as you can see he was wearing a mask because he was neutropenic. Meaning his white blood cell count was very low, as an aftermath of the chemotherapy treatment he had the week before. Because there was a hands on activity in the playroom that he wanted to participate in, he agreed to put on a mask (to prevent him coming in contact with germs). Typically Mattie under no circumstances wanted to wear a mask. I am sure that tied into the fact that Mattie had sensory issues as a toddler/preschooler, yet he was motivated that day. Mattie loved anything that was messy and that he could get to manipulate with his hands and experiment with. That day they were making a slimy gel/clay like substance to play with and the "little scientist" came out in Mattie.
Quote of the day: Dreams and goals must come from the heart, not from ego. ~ Isa Zapata
Yesterday I was glued to the computer! So last night when my friend asked me if I wanted to get together today to walk and have lunch, I thought that was a stellar idea. Naturally I could have continued to work but I needed a break. We walked over four miles today in 40 degree weather. I am waiting for spring to arrive, but so far it still feels like winter!
The friend I met today is a cancer survivor. Her daughter and Mattie went to preschool together and we have known each other for many years now. Certainly we knew each other as moms, but now we know each other through cancer. That seems to connect us on a completely different level. Catherine asked me about the Foundation today and took an interest in it, my role, and my accomplishments. It means a lot to me when someone asks me about Mattie Miracle, wants updates, wants to know next steps, asks me about the chapters I have written and so forth. Because while most of my friends are talking about their children, the Foundation is my child. Yet not everyone seems to have made that connection.
Mattie Miracle's March newsletter was distributed electronically today and in the newsletter I asked individuals and corporations to consider sponsoring our "Challenge Wall" which is new to our event this year. In fact the whole Walk is being revamped to blow out the Walk component. When the Walk was originally created, it was designed by our care community in 2009, when Mattie was alive. Mattie couldn't walk, he was wheelchair bound and therefore our community created an event in which Mattie could feel their love and support. Over the years, the Walk has evolved to a bigger event but the nature of the actual walking has always been more social rather than directive and purposeful. This year we would like individuals and teams to fundraise for us before the day of the event. We feel this model is used effectively by other non-profits but it is also a wonderful way to build community spirit, awareness, and funds around our cause and mission. Then on the day of the Walk, there will be a "challenge wall" which will be sponsored by individuals and local companies. With each lap walkers take, you will earn a colorful cup to place in the chain link challenge wall. Once the wall is filled.... the challenge has been met! Which means you will have helped us raise an additional $5,000 on the day of the event to support our psychosocial mission.
Our overall financial target for the Walk is $60,000 this year. All Walk proceeds go toward supporting the Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and our National Agenda to create and implement a psychosocial standard of care for childhood cancer. In any case, after our newsletter went out this morning, one of our supporters contacted me and his company would like to be one of our sponsors of the "Challenge Wall." So I am thrilled! If I could only clone Grant!
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