A Remembrance Video of Mattie

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am 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 have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that 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 me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki



July 26, 2016

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Tuesday, July 26, 2016 -- Mattie died 358 weeks ago today.

 Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2002. Mattie was five months old! I title this photo..... a boy on a mission! Mattie just loved his walker, or as we affectionately called it, Tot Wheels. Mattie was born to walk and run and frankly had no interest in tummy time or crawling. He never did either! Which was why tot wheels was a God sent. Mattie loved the freedom of putting his two feet on the ground and taking off. He was great on hair pin turns and maneuvering this big plastic thing through tight spaces and doorways. 
Quote of the day: The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. ~ Albert Schweitzer
Last evening, Peter and I went out to a restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Brabo. I haven't been to this restaurant in years, but always love going. Our waiter's name was Cosmos, and he tried very hard to make it an enjoyable evening. 

 At the end of the meal, Cosmos gave me my choice of desserts for my birthday. I selected this cherry torte and it was amazing. Actually the whole meal was incredible... I had a lobster entree that was so tender and memorable! 

 As Peter says, I am motivated by food! Which is true. Some people like gifts, I like good food. That wonderfully colored circle on top of the cake was completely made out of chocolate!
Yesterday afternoon, I went out to lunch with my friend, Heidi. Heidi was one of my first friends I met after Mattie died. I met her in my zumba class. Heidi knew about me through my blog, as she followed along during Mattie's battle. We know some of the same people, and she learned about us through mutual friends. Now years later, we both have stayed connected and Heidi's daughter, Isabel did many hours of community service for Mattie Miracle over the years. 

 Heidi and her family just got back from Holland. On her trip she brought me back this beautiful delft butterfly. Are these glorious Mattie Miracle colors or what?!
A lovely butterfly that I received from Heidi's daughter. I loved all my butterflies, facebook messages, and kind emails and text messages yesterday. It definitely helps get through a day which in all reality should be positive. But for me, the cloud of Mattie's diagnosis always hovers over my birthday. 
Posted by The Brown Family (DC) at 6:58 PM

1 comment:

Margy Jost said...

Vicki, many of your quotes have great meaning to me and always leave me thinking. To me the wise people measure what they say and do because there are no easy solutions to the hardest issues in life.
Psychosocial support seems like such a no brainer for all children in treatment. The entire time from diagnosis to death or survivorship is filled with crisis & trauma. So little, if anything, is done to help this in any constructive way. I am glad Mattie Miracle is persistent in the effort to reach this goal for this support or my despair would be deeper. I have watched many children struggle with anxiety as their life comes to an end. I have also watched survivurs try to live life with many hardships and few people understanding.
I will never understand nor will I accept any explanation of why children aren't at the top of all research priorities. They are our future.
I also will never stop thanking you & Peter for working to make this significant difference in the world of Pediatric Oncology.
Margy

July 30, 2016 at 9:11 AM

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