Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009, at the Mattie March. This was an event that Mattie's school hosted for him to bring our entire community together in support of Mattie. Mattie had a great time that day, and there were hundreds of people in attendance. From Mattie's preschool, elementary school, Peter's work, my university, friends, and family. In addition, most if not all of Mattie's treatment team were present! I have no idea what nurses were left at the hospital, because they all seemed to be on the field with us. Pictured here is Tricia! Tricia was Mattie's favorite nurse. Tricia and her family haven't missed a Mattie Miracle Walk yet. Peter and I feel very close to Tricia, because she truly cared for all three of us, advocated for us, and when you live with someone day in and day out in a hospital setting, you practically adopt them into your family.
Quote of the day: Sentimentality is a form of fatigue. ~ Leonora Carrington
I had what seemed like an ALL DAY licensure board meeting today. It was about five hours long, and after it was over, I developed a migraine. So tonight's posting will be short. But the quote above struck me when I saw it. Typically when I run our monthly licensure board meetings, I am the one who falls on the more rigid end of the spectrum when it comes to ethical violations or issues that come before the board. But today, I was very different. I really felt for everyone who came to talk with us. That has its pluses and minuses, which I won't get into here, but I do think being fatigued does affect how we respond to people, activities, and incidents. I saw it in myself today.
The young girl with the Cornell t-shirt on is Abbie, my friend Ann's daughter. Abbie sells donuts at the school every Friday with the helps of Tim (on the right of Abbie). Tim and Abbie both were in Mattie's kindergarten class. YES kindergarten. Which is ironic, because they kids are in 9th grade, and I am trapped in kindergarten.
Abbie's donut sales at school have produced the largest walking team Mattie Miracle has ever had! Her team has 25 walkers! The whole notion of a donut makes me laugh, because early on in Mattie's treatment all he craved was a vanilla frosted donut. So our motto then was ....... ONE DONUT A DAY AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY! Literally this is a lyric from a song, a song which Mattie played constantly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b36sUPqE8Gg
Abbie did donut sales last Friday. Apparently it was so popular that kids lined up today for donuts! As students made a Mattie Miracle donation, they received a donut in return! If we could only replicate this model at all our local schools, the Foundation's possibilities would be endless!
1 comment:
Vicki, I wholeheartedly agree with your quote and replicating ABBIE's Donut sale next year at other schools I feel their are schools that would agree to this. As a society, we need to get young people Involved so as they grow, it will be second nature to them to volunteer!!!
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