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

October 17, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie went over to Campbell's house, a good friend of his from kindergarten class. Mattie was home between treatments and had a good day playing, eating Halloween cookies, and just being a child. I wish I could say that Mattie always wanted to play and interact with his friends. He did in the beginning, but after his second limb salvaging surgery, the stress of his treatment, the pain, and his experiences of living in the hospital long-term began to have detrimental effects. The vivacious and engaging Mattie disappeared and he preferred to isolate himself and disengage from those around him. 


Quote of the day: The human person cannot face up to a bad outcome, that's just the deal. ~ Barbara Kingsolver


While Peter is away, my friend Heidi contacted me and asked if I wanted to meet today for lunch and shopping! It was a frigid day and blustery! The sun was out earlier in the morning but by mid-day it was grey and overcast. We had a lovely lunch by the Potomac River in Alexandria and then walked around together browsing and shopping. It was a nice way to spend the day, because being alone after Mattie died is challenging. Especially on a weekend. I can't explain why this is, but it is! Weekends in general are difficult for Peter and me, because without Mattie in our lives we are a bit directionless. Ironically we weren't like this before Mattie was born, but once Mattie entered our world and we raised him for seven years, we got used to being a family of three. 


Peter and his parents drove to Bates College in Maine today to see Nat, our nephew, play in a variety soccer game. Peter kept me posted with photos, and I can only IMAGINE how cold it was sitting outside watching that game! 

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