Tonight's picture was taken on August 10, 2009. Five days after we learned that Mattie's cancer had spread all over, making his condition terminal. These are photos I did not highlight during Mattie's treatment, but we had many moments that looked like this. Mattie was in the hospital and simply not feeling well and was depressed. You will notice his albino boa constrictor stuffed animal, named Sunshine, on his hospital bed. Mattie was given Sunshine by his good pal, Jocelyn. Jocelyn had osteosarcoma, and died five years after Mattie. Mattie loved Sunshine, and you can still find Sunshine in Mattie's bedroom today.
Quote of the day: Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’ ~ Mary Anne Radmacher
To me this is the perfect wall for this original piece. It is hung over the Italian marquetry box that houses Mattie's ashes. Mattie LOVED oak trees, as he was an avid acorn collector and enjoyed giving them out as gifts. In fact, after Mattie died, his school asked what type of tree we wanted to plant in Mattie's memory.... we said an oak. Unfortunately both of Mattie's memorial oak trees died, as Alexandria has some sort of oak blithe. Nonetheless, this painting depicts an oak that no longer exists in Charlottesville, though it provided beauty for years. It seemed like the appropriate painting that captures the essence of Mattie.
1 comment:
Vicki, i stared a long time at this picture of Mattie. In fact, I looked at it this morning before we went to his tree. This picture is heartbreaking and if I feel this, what must you & Peter feel. I have never understood people who say to a parent of a seriously ill child, they know how they feel! They don't because if they feel badly, one can only imagine the degree worse a parent feels. I believe people in general can't begin to imagine the pain parents experience when their child suffers and they can't fix it.
I like your quote about courage. I wrote it down! Quotes are my thing. Some touch me deeply for the truth they hold.
Mattie's friend Jocelyn sounds remarkable. Wonder how many friends, she said good bye to before she herself died. I think of all the relationships kids made with one another, when I worked. They were special, age did not matter, experience did. They all shared a cancer diagnosis. They all faced an uncertain future. Their extended family were a group of medical people in various job capacities. We may have been each a part of care giving but they were definitely the teachers.
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