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

July 13, 2020

Monday, July 13, 2020

Monday, July 13, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2007. Mattie was five years old and visiting Peter's parents in Boston. Peter's mom got Mattie this big Tutankhamen puzzle. Mattie assembled the puzzle and then we joked with him..... who was taller, Mattie or the puzzle? Naturally Mattie wanted to find out the answer to this question. Of course by extending his arms and feet out, this made Mattie the winner. 








Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins

  • number of people diagnosed with the virus: 3,352,696
  • number of people who died from the virus: 135,512


On April 7th, Sunny had knee surgery. Tomorrow will mark week 14th of rehab. We took Sunny to see his surgeon today for his final examination! Fortunately Sunny got good results. His bones are setting and he has been cleared for regular activity. Of course with the intense outdoor temperatures and the fact that Sunny is not used to longer walks anymore, it will take time to build up his stamina and endurance. It has been a hard spring for all of us. 


After his appointment, we took Sunny for a walk on Roosevelt Island. We figured he earned it. As soon as we got on the island, Peter and Sunny spotted this! Do you see it? Wild turkey! The last time we saw turkey on the island was in 2008, shortly before Mattie was diagnosed with cancer. Funny as this sounds, I did not expect or want to see turkeys today. To me seeing turkeys on the island is connected to receiving bad news. In 12 years, I haven't seen one turkey and we are on the island all the time. So why these two today? 
Sunny loves holes! Mainly because things that scurry live in these holes. Sunny gives Peter and I structure, routine, and companionship. He was a much needed addition to our home, and though nothing can fill our home like Mattie, we are happy to have our animals back with us. 
Sunny and Peter! A place Mattie used to love to walk. 
Turtles were out and about in the Potomac River today. Mattie was a turtle fan, and when he was battling cancer, a friend adopted a turtle for Mattie in the Caribbean. The turtle's name was Roxanne. We used to get updates on Roxanne and could track her where abouts! So I got used to all things turtle! Out of tradition I snapped a photo of this one today! 

I got a call from my dad's physical therapist today. He is a wonderful person. He wanted to update me on my dad's progress and we chatted through some things. I am grateful that Jon wishes to continue to work with my dad long-term, even when insurance stops paying. An extraordinary individual! We fielded other calls today, everything from my parent's car, to long term care insurance. One hopes that things will stabilize, and clearly from where I found my dad on June 9th, he is making great progress. But recovery doesn't happen easily when you age and right now I am still trying to tease out whether his physical and cognitive issues will improve or will they remain this way permanently. Only time will tell. 

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