Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2008. Mattie was home and recovering from his limb salvaging surgeries. Though it may appear that Mattie was walking, he truly couldn't independently. Not unlike when he was a toddler learning to walk, he would brace himself on furniture and our stair railing to move around. It was very hard to give Mattie his space to figure this out and maneuver on his own, because under the circumstances my natural tendency was to help and support him. But I learned during his 14 month battle when he needed a hand and when he really wanted to try things on his own.
Quote of the day: The solution to self-pity is found in the labor of selfless giving to others. ~ T.F. Hodge
For five hours today, myself and St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School faculty and students delivered 5,000 pounds of candy around town. We stopped at three locations: Cornerstones/Embry Community Shelter in Reston, VA, Covenant House in Washington, DC and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. I photographed two of our three locations. I did not take any photos at Cornerstones in Reston because they had multiple donation drop offs today and it was very hectic in the parking lot!
Mattie Miracle visited Covenant House in DC. Covenant House
provides shelter and support services for homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.
Because the Foundation received 7,500 pounds of candy this year, which far
exceeded our expectations, we needed to find additional recipients in our
community who could benefit from these treats. It was a very memorable and
empowering visit for Mattie Miracle and our volunteers and we are honored we
can provide this support to a great non-profit in our area.
Pictured here from left to right are: Larry Jenney (Associate Director of Summer Programs at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School-- SSSAS), Khalil (senior student at SSSAS), Cam (senior student at SSSAS), Tamra Johnson (Director of Marketing and Communications at Covenant House), Joe Shabelski (Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities and Grounds at SSSAS), two residents of Covenant House, and Keith Mills (Dean of Students at SSSAS).
Mattie Miracle made a 2,500 pound candy delivery today to
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital! This candy will supply the free
snack/item cart that we offer to families caring for children within the
hospital. The cart provides both nutritious and sweet treats, but it is the
candy that is MOST desired by families coping with the stress of a child who is
sick.
This concludes Mattie Miracle's candy drive. We have provided candy to
the following organizations:
1) MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
2)
Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda, MD
3) Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
4) Hospital for
Sick Children Pediatric Center, Washington, DC
5) Ronald McDonald House, Washington, DC
6) Ronald
McDonald House, Falls Church, VA
7) Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester, VA
8)
DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Washington, DC
9) Miriam's Kitchen, Washington, DC
10) Embry
Rucker Community Center, Reston, VA
11) Cornerstones, Reston, VA
12) Covenant House
DC, Washington, DC
Pictured here from left to right are: Cam (senior student at SSSAS), Lerin Raines (Mattie Miracle funded child life specialist at Georgetown University Hospital), Larry Jenney (Associate Director of Summer Programs), Jess Abrams (child life specialist at Georgetown), Keith Mills (Dean of Students at the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Upper School), Katie Wallace (child life specialist at Georgetown), Khalil (senior student at SSSAS), Ann Henshaw (Mattie Miracle Board member) and Joe Shabelski (Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities and Grounds).
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