Tonight's picture was taken in June of 2009. Mattie was in the clinic and playing with his good buddy, Jocelyn. Jocelyn had osteosarcoma as well but Mattie was 7 and Jocelyn was 25. Despite their age difference they connected, understood each other, and Jocelyn was an excellent role model for Mattie. I will never forget when Mattie had to have his first limb salvaging surgery. I could try to empathize with him but I did not have first hand knowledge like Jocelyn. Jocelyn had a sense of humor and as she was talking about her amputation with Mattie she showed him her prosthetic, but did it in a non-threatening almost funny way. She then explained all the things she could do with her leg and this made a real impression on Mattie. So in essence she normalized a very abnormal experience. It is hard to imagine that both Mattie and Jocelyn are dead.
This photo shows us sitting around the clinic's art table with Jocelyn and Katie (one of Mattie's wonderful HEM/ONC nurses). If you look closely you will see Mattie created an alligator out of a big clip and the alligator was chomping on my index finger! I still have this alligator clip in our kitchen.
Quote of the day: You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
1 comment:
Vicki,
The picture, you posted is precious. I enlarged it so did see the clip. What will always & forever touch my heart are the genuine smiles kids in treatment for Cancer usually give!! I know many of those smiles are given when feeling good is not happening. I also know every picture does not have the smile. But I have many pictures of kids in various places of treatment providing the picture taker of a genuine, memorable, lifetime smile. I am glad, he & Jocelyn has each other!! That was so important.
Looking forward to finding out what color TEAM KIMBER IS!!!!
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