Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Tonight's picture was taken on July 20, 2002, at Mattie's baptism. By that point, Mattie was three months old. The officiant of this special ceremony was Father Jim. I met Jim at the George Washington University, as he was running the Newman Center on the campus at that time. In fact, it was Jim who gave me my first therapy client to counsel under his supervision. I will never for that client, I will never forget Jim, and I truly believe Jim is a gifted priest. Jim was also the officiant at Mattie's funeral. The reason I love this photo was because Jim's raised pointer finger was signaling to our friends and family that in his many baptisms over the years, there was only one child who loved being dunked in water, and landed up laughing after being dunked.... and that was Mattie Brown!

Quote of the day: There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. ~ Jane Austen

This morning, after I dropped my dad off at his memory care center, the doorbell rang. I answered it and was greeted with this beautiful flower arrangement from my friend, Christine. As you can see my friends know I love flowers and particularly flowers with Mattie Miracle themed colors. Many of my close friends were met through Mattie. Christine's son and Mattie were in kindergarten together and in many ways they were inseparable. Mattie was nervous about starting kindergarten but it was thanks to having a close buddy like Campbell, that Mattie had a stellar first year of elementary school. Naturally as the boys were friends, I got to spend time with Christine. We just clicked from day one and have been connected ever since. 

Today several of my friends came over to celebrate my birthday. As you can imagine, I didn't feel like celebrating, but my friend Ann encouraged me to be open to this and she coordinated the day. Ann is the person wearing the sunglasses. I met all these friends who came over today through Mattie's preschool in 2005! We are still friends today and all to them are devoted to Mattie Miracle. For those of you unfamiliar with my story, Ann was the leader of Team Mattie, a network of friends who delivered food to us for over a year (everyday!!!) in the hospital and provided gifts of all kinds to Mattie practically daily to weekly! In addition, Ann's husband was Mattie's surgeon who performed his limb salvaging surgeries. I say this because Ann and I have been through life and death moments together. 

 

After swimming, we had lunch on the porch and a carvel ice cream cake. I did not worry about food, Ann managed all of it, and I only set the table!

Since I was a kid, my favorite birthday cake has always been a Carvel cake. Growing up in New York, this was a staple! So to this day, I still love it!

I rarely get to spend time on my own porch or go into the pool. So when friends get me outside, it reminds me, how beautifully green things are, why I work so hard in the backyard, and why I fell in love with this house in 2021. 

My friends showered me with gifts and gift cards!

In my mailbox today, were two small boxes. When I opened them, I found this lovely desk plaque. It reads:

Difference Maker

A very special person who changes lives daily, a compassionate person who is completely focused on the well-being of others, a talented communicator who is highly skilled at supporting, guiding, protecting, representing, consoling and understanding all. Makes the impossible possible, one of life's greatest gifts. 

See also: (Vicki the legacy Keeper) MMCF

The other box contained this amazing window catcher with a moon and stargazer lilies. It is just glorious because the moon symbolizes my Mattie and the stargazer lily symbolizes me (as I am in love with these flowers, which is why giant ones were planted in my backyard in 2022). 

So who sent me these two touching and meaningful gifts? Tricia, Mattie's nurse extraordinaire. There are NO WORDS to describe Tricia. She is an exceptional nurse and person, amazing patient advocate, and compassionate in all ways. We couldn't have made it without Tricia, as she took care of all three of us! Mattie who was a discerning fellow LOVED Tricia, and made it his business to tell her as much right in the middle of the pediatric intensive care unit hallway. It was a moment none of us will forget, because Mattie was screaming his head off for Tricia across the hallway. We thought Mattie was ill or in pain, so Tricia came flying over. In true Mattie style, he told Tricia he wanted her to come over immediately because he had to tell her he loved her! That was my Mattie!

Mattie may have died in 2009, but the bond he helped form between me and Tricia is unbreakable. These gifts mean the world to me because Tricia saw me living 24/7 the impossible and she has also been a part of my Mattie Miracle journey and has observed the difference the Foundation is making in the lives of children with cancer. 

All I can say is Mattie left me with an amazing group of friends, who I would never have met without his presence in the world. No matter how decimated my life may feel, I am very cognizant and grateful for my friends. Divorce can't destroy my character or who I am as a person, divorce can't destroy my friendships, and divorce will not blind me to the many wonderful people in my life.