Mattie's Blog and his Fight Against Osteosarcoma

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am 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 have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that 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 me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.

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

January 17, 2021

Sunday, January 17, 2020

Sunday, January 17, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2009. Mattie was home between treatments and a teacher from Mattie's school came over to give him a piano lesson that day. This teacher was NOT a music teacher at the school, but did know how to play the piano and was eager to teach Mattie. It was her suggestion, which I appreciated. The keyboard in front of Mattie was given to him by Jerry and Nancy (the dynamic musical duo who volunteered at the hospital and became attached to Mattie). I will never forget the kindness, care, and compassion shown to us by Mattie's support community.

Quote of the day: Today coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.

number of people diagnosed with the virus: 23,871,070
number of people who died from the virus: 397,008

What a time to live in DC! The city is in complete lock down, over and above COVID. I swear I am in a developing nation, not in the USA. This is the sight we have in front of our building. National Guard and police completely blocking the street! Basically no way to get to the National Mall!

Beside that sight, we also have TENTS all around us in front of our building! Why our complex is doing nothing about this is infuriating, as they have a lot more clout within the city than ONE PRIVATE RESIDENT! I left DC in December and I came back to a major encampment!

This is the encampment I am referring to! In addition to the tents, these folks urinate, defecate, leave garbage, and smoke pot at our doorstep! Of course in the eyes of DC government, I AM THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM!

This is quite a welcome home! We are surrounded by military trucks, National Guard HOLDING automatic weapons, and bridges and street closed for at least a week.