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

February 18, 2017

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2005. This was another favorite photo of mine. Peter captured Mattie with an expression of sheer joy. Though Peter joked with me by saying that when Mattie and I were together.... Mattie always seemed to glow with happiness. Not sure if that was true, but I certainly loved hearing it. 



Quote of the day: Love is the only answer to every question. It is the only thing that will serve you in every situation. It is the route and the destination. It is medication, liberation and should be at the heart of and expression of your vocation. ~ Rasheed Ogunlaru


When we woke up this morning, we found ducks swimming in the hotel pool. It was a real sight and lots of people were taking photographs of this occurrence!
There was weather over the Carolinas, so air traffic in Florida was basically at a stand still. If you were flying east. Our flight was delayed close to two hours. But we made it home safely and took wonderful photos on our descent..... this was Great Falls, VA. 
I can't get over this photo. This is an aerial view of Georgetown University. This may look beautiful, but to me it symbolizes cancer. When Mattie was hospitalized for over a year, many of the rooms we were in faced this green AstroTurf. I felt that Mattie's room was my own private Alcatraz. I could see life, normality, and students engaging in sporting events on this field and yet we were trapped, isolated and very different. This AstroTurf doesn't evoke sports or the university.... but pain, cancer, and ultimately death. 

Flying over the Kennedy Center!
An amazing view of the Washington Mall!
The Washington Monument!
While we were away, our college sent us a valentine. It is actually a fundraiser, but what captured my attention was the message and the heart. Peter and I met at Union College, and the College is acknowledging our "union" together. Great play on words.







Meanwhile, Peter went to pick up Sunny tonight, who was boarding with a friend. It turns out when Peter got to her home, her front door wasn't completely closed and the house had lights on, but no one was home! So Peter was suspicious and called me. I was home unpacking. It turns out that Sunny escaped and was running through the neighborhood, and worse across a major street. The family was out chasing Sunny and left the house in a hurry. One of the streets Sunny crossed is almost like a mini highway. The fact that he wasn't killed tonight is a miracle. I have come to the conclusion that two escapes is enough for me. He escaped during his boarding with someone else in January and now escaped with another friend. Moving forward Sunny is going to a facility when we are away. I wanted to keep him at someone's home because I thought he was thrive with that kind of attention, but I can't trust him. He needs constant supervision and in a very secured surrounding. Quite a welcome home!

1 comment:

Margy1317 said...

Vicki,
I agree with Peter, there are pictures of you & Mattie and he is glowing with happiness. However, those same pictures show you glowing and your smile in every picture of you & Mattie shows complete love on your face. Complete, unconditional love is the greatest gift we can give to another. It is my belief, that children thrive in love like this. This love causes the greatest heartbreaks too. Because when we love with all we have. Loosing this can break a heart. While there are many that don't hold to the theory that the death of someone we love can cause a broken heart, Indo. I have seen it.

I am sorry about Sunny! I don't quite understand how he got away because I have such watchful eyes. I am glad despite his escapade, he came back alright. His safety is the importance so I am sure you will find a good place for him while you travel!