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

May 1, 2015

Friday, May 1, 2015

Friday, May 1, 2015

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2007. We took Mattie to Andrews Air Force Base that weekend for their annual air show. Mattie ranged from scared to intrigued. He loved the planes and exploring them but the sounds, noise, and commotion were overwhelming at times for him. Though I personally will never forget the Thunderbird airshow. I had never seen anything like it ever! Mattie jumped into this plane, which to me looked like a helicopter, and took the controls. He was very serious about it, focused, and was taking direction from Peter by his side. 



Quote of the day: Loved. You can't use it in the past tense. Death does not stop that love at all. ~ Unknown


I began my day by driving to Suitland Federal Center, or basically the base where the US Census Bureau is located in Washington, DC. Why? Because their child daycare center was collecting toiletries for our Foundation's item drive. Ironically they weren't familiar with where I am located and I am not that familiar with where they are located. Thankfully though I had done a candy drop off this past November in a nearby location, so I had half a chance at finding this place this morning. Also GPS on my phone helped. Though I have to admit I can't always understand the GPS' directions! I must be the only one who can't follow GPS! She tells you to turn or go East or West! All I know is if I knew which direction was East or West was, I wouldn't need her assistance in the first place!

Visiting the US Census Bureau is like going to Fort Knox. Between guards, security checks points and so forth, it took me 20 minutes to get onto the campus! However, I got on and did pick up the last bunch of items for the drive.

Picking up items all over town isn't the only thing I do for the drive. Every item has to be sorted and hand inspected. Some people donate half used items unfortunately. I am sure with the best of intentions. But in my opinion bringing something to a hospital is a little different than bringing something to Goodwill. Not only is hygiene a factor, but also what concerns me is the perception. Families are isolated, alone, and working around the clock caring for a child. Receiving a half used item can be interpreted as being insensitive and uncaring. Therefore, I always make sure such items are removed. 

As of tonight, the item drive is officially closed and this completes our fourth drive in honor of Mattie's 13th birthday.  

Here is the photo I took today of all the items! In addition to toiletries, you will notice a couch full of Keurig cups, for a coffee maker. These cups are VERY SOUGHT after at Georgetown University Hospital and will be greatly appreciated by inpatient families.  

For everyone who contributed to our drive.... A BIG THANK YOU!

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