Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Tuesday, February 21, 2017 -- Mattie died 388 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2003. Right before Mattie's first birthday party. While I was setting things up, Mattie was in his "tot wheels" and racing around our home. Mattie was in love with Elmo, so when it came time for a birthday theme, I naturally gravitated to that red furry Sesame Street creature. If you watched Mattie as he tuned into a Sesame Street episode you would laugh. Mattie was a multi-tasker and never really just watched TV. He was always creating, building, and moving around during Sesame Street. That is until Elmo came on the screen. Just the sound of Elmo stopped Mattie in his tracks. He would look up from whatever he was doing and his eyes would be transfixed on the screen. Totally glued until Elmo's portion ended and then of course Mattie returned back to playing. 


Quote of the day: We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep. ~ William James

Tonight Peter and I attended a dinner at the George Town Club for Dr. Aziza Shad. Dr. Shad was the chief of pediatric oncology at one time at Georgetown University Hospital. In fact, she was the doctor who was on call the day Mattie died. She managed that nightmare quite effectively, given that Mattie had to be put in a coma to die.

Aziza sits on Mattie Miracle's board and is now the chief of pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore. I can't tell you how many times I have walked passed the George Town Club, and wanted to know what it looked like inside. It was an absolutely LOVELY event tonight. From the food, timing of things, and how they arranged us at the tables. It was a very intimate and elegant room, and they had place cards at the table. Typically I don't like this, but in this case, it worked out beautifully. 

I sat next to the founders of Scout, the functional and fashionable bag company. It turns out that one of the founders graduated from Mattie's school. It was a small world, and naturally we were connected because both of our children were cared for by Aziza. The feeling in the room was noteworthy, as Aziza was surrounded by patients and families who are committed to her. Such devotion doesn't just happen, it is earned. Aziza is the kind of doctor that will call or text message you back within minutes, at any time of day, and anywhere in the world. Totally unheard of, but she is that dedicated. So like tonight's quote points out...... so many of us this evening are separate in many ways, but through Aziza we are deeply connected. Connected through cancer, our desire to support the work she does, and gratefulness for her kindness to our families as we endured life's greatest challenge. Keep in mind that we know many of Aziza's supporters, as we met while Mattie was battling cancer. Though Mattie died and most of their children are alive, we all greatly respect each other. The yellow roses were our table display, and I was lucky enough to be given it to take home. Seems special on a Tuesday..... the day of the week that Mattie died.