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 6, 2015

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 -- Mattie died 316 weeks ago today. 

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. This was a classic Mattie and Linda photo. Linda was Mattie's child life specialist and they had a special connection and bond. Linda understood that Mattie needed to have responsibility and to feel a part of something. That day a big shipment of items came into the play room. Linda invited Mattie into the mix to help sort and check things out! Of course in the process Mattie came back to his room with a few items! 


Quote of the day: To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson


As the calendar has turned over to October, Mattie Miracle is now focused on its fifth annual Candy Drive. In order to get ready for this, I have been reaching out to hospitals and community organizations that assist children with cancer and their families to see whether they will accept candy from us this year. Last year we collected 4000 pounds of candy, and I learned how important it is to know before hand where this candy's destination will be. So far this year we know that our candy will go to:

1) MedStar Georgetown University -- to stock our Mattie Miracle Snack/Item Cart. This cart revolves around the inpatient pediatric units three times a week and is greeted with smiles and deep appreciation. In many cases, parents come to the hospital in an emergency situation and do not bring toiletries with them. Which is why our April toiletry drive is crucial, because it helps to stock the cart. However, our candy drive is just as vital, because when stressed out and caring for a child 24 by 7, the number one item families turn to to perk themselves up, is candy! 

2) Children's Inn at NIH
3) Hospital for Sick Children in DC
4) National Children's Medical Center
5) Two Ronald McDonald Houses
and other organizations! 

However, the community that enables us to collect all this candy is vast! We get candy from individuals, schools, and businesses in DC, Maryland, and Virginia! In fact the Lab School of Washington, DC just confirmed with me today that they will be collecting candy for us a third year in a row. In addition, we saw this wonderful Arlington Now publication that came out today announcing that Fairlington Dental in Arlington will be collecting candy for us this year. In fact, I have been on the phone today with Fairlington Dental and they hope to donate 300 pounds of candy and are even willing to entertain being a corporate sponsor for our Annual May Walk! Needless to say Fairlington Dental made my day!

Article on Fairlington Dental:

http://wtop.com/arlnow-com/2015/10/fairlington-dental-practice-to-buy-back-halloween-candy/

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