Mattie Miracle Walk 2023 was a $131,249 success!

Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation Promotional Video

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to us that you take the time to write to us and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful to us and help support us through very challenging times. To you we are forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically stop writing on September 9, 2010. However, at the moment, I feel like our journey with grief still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with us, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki and Peter



The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation celebrates its 7th anniversary!

The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation was created in the honor of Mattie.

We are a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. We are dedicated to increasing childhood cancer awareness, education, advocacy, research and psychosocial support services to children, their families and medical personnel. Children and their families will be supported throughout the cancer treatment journey, to ensure access to quality psychosocial and mental health care, and to enable children to cope with cancer so they can lead happy and productive lives. Please visit the website at: www.mattiemiracle.com and take some time to explore the site.

We have only gotten this far because of people like yourself, who have supported us through thick and thin. So thank you for your continued support and caring, and remember:

.... Let's Make the Miracle Happen and Stomp Out Childhood Cancer!

A Remembrance Video of Mattie

December 9, 2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2008. Mattie was home between treatments and requested all sorts of Chinese food. I personally love how Mattie wanted to use chopsticks given that three out of his four limbs were recovering from surgery. Mattie was sitting on our couch, which typically is in front of our picture window. But a hospital bed was in our living room, in the exact location where the couch used to be. Our whole home looked like a hospital in a way, but given all we were balancing it made no difference to any of us. What I do remember, was I learned all the wonderful on-line clothing companies which sold clothes with velcro enclosures. These types of clothes were a God sent, since there was no way I could help Mattie put on pants or jackets without velcro. He couldn't get his arms into jackets or legs into pants. 


Quote of the day: Thank goodness for the first snow, it was a reminder--no matter how old you became and how much you'd seen, things could still be new if you were willing to believe they still mattered. Candace Bushnell


Washington, DC experienced its first snowfall for the winter. The forecasters as is typical blew the prediction as the snow did not start or stop as was reported, nor did DC get any notable  accumulation. Keep in mind that in DC, an inch can shut down the city. 

On Peter's walk this morning with Sunny, he snapped this photo from Washington Harbor, looking at Rosslyn and the Key Bridge. A real snow sky!

This is a snapshot of Mattie's memorial garden in our commons area. Peter and Mattie planted many of the trees together in this spot. But notice the garden hooks holding three bird feeders. I gave these bird feeders to my friend Mary, as she was dying. I wanted her to be able to look out her window and see birds. When Mary died, I moved this set up to Mattie's garden. When I see the birds flocking around the feeders, I think of my friend Mary. 
Peter and Sunny headed out on a walk, and I snapped a photo from Mattie's bedroom window! It is hard to see but the snow was coming down. Sunny grew up in South Carolina and he is NOT a snow fan. He manages through it if it is falling down, but he doesn't like accumulated snow. He doesn't like walking on top of snow at all. It is actually very funny to watch him! 











The highlight of my day today was I went out to the Ritz Carlton for high tea. I have always wanted to do this. There was a pianist playing holiday tunes in the background and the room was filled with people, all enjoying time with each other. You got to pick your own loose tea, and a lovely tea pot sat on a warmer in front of you! On a cold snowy day, this was very special. They serve you all sorts of tiny treats, from sandwiches to cookies, scones, and pastries! It was a two hour break that was very needed and memorable. 

1 comment:

Margy Jost said...

Vicki, there are so many thoughts running through my head after reading this post. The picture of Mattie holding the chopsticks over the container of food while looking in the direction of the camera is very thought provoking. I wonder so much what Mattie was thinking in that moment. He had one working limb, he had gone from well to sick in what I am sure felt like seconds to him. He has a very pensive look.
Mattie was a beautiful child whether he was smiling or not.

The picture of Peter & Sunny looking up fir you to take the picture is priceless. Sunny always looks like he is ready to do whatever is needed.

I went to high tea once at the Tyson's Ritz Carketon years ago. Actually 2001. That would be a fun thing to do some time. It is very relaxing!