Friday, February 28, 2020

Friday, February 28, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2005. Mattie was almost three years old! This was what our living and dining rooms used to look like! Trains and cars everywhere. Of course the sippy cup of milk was always part of the journey! I traveled everywhere with a sippy cup of milk, regardless of the season. 

Quote of the day: Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven’t been done before. ~ Eli Broad

Pictured from left to right: Kelly Beck (Head of child life), Adina (Mattie Miracle's child life specialist), Susan Daw (Director of Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services), Peter, Vicki, and Mary Jane Herbert. 

We went to Children's Hospital at Sinai today in Baltimore to donate $46,000 to the Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. A fund that pays Adina's (our child life professional) full-time salary. 

As tonight's quote points out, we wouldn't be able to write such a check without the incredible support of all of our donors. Clearly Peter and I are passionate about psychosocial care and I believe that Mattie's story has engaged our support community. 

Pictured left to right: Vicki, Dr. Aziza Shad, Peter, and Adina

Dr. Shad was the physician on call the day Mattie died. We have followed her to Baltimore to support her programs and her great work. 

It has been a tradition that with check signing days, we bring cupcakes. The cupcakes are made by me and they are in memory of Mattie. As cupcakes were his food of choice when on treatment. 

After our cupcake party, we went around the pediatric units with Adina and pushed our snack and item cart.

Adina made these wonderful displays about child life and her work at the hospital. I am so glad we have copies of them now. 

Some of the things Adina does in a given week. 

Reflections from a mom of a 4 year old who deeply appreciates Adina. It is worth reading!

As tonight's quote points out.... the beauty of doing things that haven't been done before.... specifically our snack and item carts are unique, they engage our support community, but they also help thousands of families a year.