Friday, May 25, 2018

Friday, May 25, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken on May 21, 2009. We were given tickets to take Mattie to a Nat's game. Mattie was like me, not a huge sports fan. Nonetheless, we took Mattie as we thought this would be a diversion. When we entered the baseball stadium, I can't tell you how many people looked at the three of us as if we were from another planet. They looked Mattie up and down! The fact that I did not smack someone or argue with them was a feat. Because I had several choice words to dish out. But my number one goal was to protect Mattie, so I did not expend energy on clueless people. Yet I recall that Army representatives were at the game and greeted visitors. They were giving out free t-shirts that said, Army Strong. I remember they handed Mattie a t-shirt and said that he earned it as he was very strong. That interaction was probably the best part of that day. 


Quote of the day: You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp. ~ Anne Lamott

At the Walk this year we had 19 teams. Teams are vital to the Foundation as they provide energy and expand our support community. In addition, many of our teams also fundraise and help us meet our financial goal. 

This was Team SAINTS. It is comprised of high school students at the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School. The team was captained by Mattie's friend Abbie. It is hard to believe that Mattie would be a sophomore in high school if he were alive today. This team won the spirit award, as they held bake sales every Friday for a month in order to raise money for Mattie Miracle and register students to attend the Walk. 

This is Team Kimber. The captain of this team is my friend, Margy. Margy is the lady in the wheelchair, who is dealing with her own battle with ovarian cancer. Cancer was not going to hold Margy back from attending the Walk. Remarkable!!! 

Team Kimber joins us two years in a row. Kimber was Margy's friend who died from kidney cancer. Want to know who Margy's team mates are? Try Kimber's parents (who lost two children to cancer), Margy and Kimber's husband, and Kimber's children!

This is "That Walk Team." The captain is my friend Peggy. Peggy's team raised over $10,000 and she is our top fundraiser four years in a row. 

This was a new Walk team that joined us this year. They are from TC Williams High School. It featured several members of the School's robotics club. With the robot they designed of course! 

This was the Blessed Sacrament Bullfrogs team, captained by my friend Jane. The Bullfrogs are always our largest team and they are also the team that completes the Walk Challenge first! Walking 60 miles collectively. 

This was team RCC & Friends, captained by my friend and board member Ann. This team is comprised of families we know from Mattie's preschool. This team has joined us four years in a row and is always our top fundraising team. They raised over $10,500!

This was Team MedStar (the hospital where Mattie was treated). It was captained by Bob, who was Mattie's surgeon. His team mates feature Mattie's favorite HEM/ONC nurse, Tricia, and ALL of her family. Including Melo, the dog!







This was team Sunshine. It was captained by my friend Liz. In the second row on the left are Olivia and her mom, April. Olivia is an osteosarcoma survivor.