Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. Mattie was a month into treatment. While home, his close preschool friend, Zachary, came to visit. Zachary brought Mattie an Indiana Jones hat and other accessories. Mattie loved the hat, which sits on our Mattie memory rack in our living room. As if the hat is waiting for its owner to come back and wear it. Throughout Mattie's battle with cancer he had a handful of friends like Zachary, who came to visit him regardless of the situation. I am not sure who I admire more.... the children or their parents. Because it takes courage to enter a hospital room and see a child sick with cancer and transformed by the treatment and the disease. Many parents over time did not allow their children to come and visit Mattie, and I can appreciate why. But I have to say I am thankful for those who kept on visiting Mattie until the end.
Quote of the day: The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. ~ William James
Peter and I both subscribe to one of our corporate sponsor's blog postings. Dominion Consulting has been sponsoring the Mattie Miracle Walk since 2012. They are our largest corporate sponsor and I was thrilled to see their posting today entitled, "NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY…OUR COMMITMENT TO THE MATTIE MIRACLE FOUNDATION."
The NOT JUST ABOUT the MONEY is a direct take off of our tag line.... IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT the MEDICINE. Which was great to see, but it is the message behind their blog title that was so meaningful.
Dominion Consulting not only financially supports Mattie Miracle, but they also coordinate a Walk Team to help raise funds, they host an activity table at the Walk, they provide us with professional resources such as consultants who moderated our psychosocial round table on Capitol Hill in January, and they also provide assistance with press releases.
To read Dominion Consulting's blog posting, go to:
http://dominionconsulting.com/not-just-moneyour-commitment-mattie-miracle-foundation/
1 comment:
Vicki, I can't even think how to begin a comment on a blog that was so complete of the goodness, we can find in others. I am so glad Mattie had Zachary & Abbie. They were remarkable but their parents must have been also. It is so easy to think we are doing the best thing for our kids when we shield them from hard, horrible realities. Mattie's Cancer was very real and life altering for Mattie, you & Peter. Cancer took Mattie from you, forever. However, Mattie was still Mattie. Cancer did not define him ever. Those 2 kids were taught to look beyond the Cancer, see their friend for who he really was. To keep the Mattie, they knew alive while seeing how horrible Cancer is.. Children can only learn this at home. Children learn to embrace not to fear from their parents. Children learn acceptance from modeling their parents. I feel certain in every interaction, they had with Mattie, he taught them valuable lessons about life. Children can have a major impact on the morale of a friend fightinging a life threatening illness.They learn in the process compassion, kindness & acceptance!
Post a Comment