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

May 10, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 -- Mattie died 87 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in August of 2007 at Roosevelt Island. As you can see it was raining and Mattie came prepared with his Lightning McQueen umbrella. I still recall buying this umbrella with him. He loved Lightning McQueen, and between Peter and I, we must have seen the movie, Cars, 200 times with Mattie.

Quote of the day: There are places in the heart that do not yet exist; suffering has to enter in for them to come to be. ~ Leon Bloy

Despite not feeling well, I did get up and out today. I even walked three miles. But you shouldn't confuse my walking with feeling well. Sometimes I walk because it helps take my mind off how I am feeling. I spent a good portion of the afternoon finalizing raffle items for the walk. In fact, I decided to give you a picture display of what we have been working on. I think the pictures and items speak for themselves. In fact, when I attended a Georgetown Hospital parent advisory board meeting tonight, the chair of the board let everyone know that she was very impressed with our raffle, and hasn't seen another come close to it. I was very touched by her sentiments, because it has been a solicitation challenge, and the coordination of this is cumbersome. Which is why, for me, it is important to have a raffle coordinator I can get along with and is flexible with my demands. Take a look at our 10 packages! Tickets for these items are being sold on-line, and on the day of the event. You do not have to be present at the walk to win! For tickets, please visit: https://www.mattiemiracle.com/Raffle.html


Annapolis Sailing Excursion

Sail Away for a fabulous day on the bay aboard the Windemere – a 39’ sailboat docked in Annapolis. Day sail is for up to 4 people for 4-6 hours and can be scheduled for week/weekend day this summer
(excluding Memorial Day Weekend, July 4th Weekend and June 12-20).
















Around Town Gift Basket

Enjoy all that our area has to offer with this variety of gift certificates from local restaurants, vendors, and 2 tickets to Wicked the Musical on June 18, 2011 at 1:30pm. Also included are a custom portrait by the renowned Jeff Lubin Portrait Studio and a salon package from one of DC's top spots, Molecule Salon.









 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Washington Capitals Fan Pack

A Caps enthusiast’s dream – a fabulous collection of Caps Memorabilia and Autographs! And, get ready to cheer them on to victory in the 2011-2012 season with 2 sets of tickets to 2 home games (dates determined by winner and donor)!

















Kenny Chesney Tickets

Calling all Country Music Fans – Enjoy 2 tickets to the SOLD OUT Kenny Chesney Concert on June 4, 2011, 4:30pm, at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

.

















Clyde’s Star Spangled Basket

This basket includes all you will need to host your own summer “lobstah” feast and then treat yourself to another fabulous feast with $200 in Clyde’s Coins!




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Washington Nationals Tickets

Enjoy a night out at Nationals Stadium – June 22 – first pitch at 7:05pm – when the Nationals take on the Seattle Mariners. Game package includes 4 Diamond Level seats with parking and “all you can eat” in Diamond Club or Diamond Club Seats! Nats collectibles included.
















Pamper Me Package

Everything the “Lady of the House” needs to feel relaxed and pampered – from a day at the spa (certificates to ALL 3: Serenity Day Spa, Elizabeth Arden's Red Door, and Sugar House Day Spa) to some special items just for her!

















Red Sox Fanatics Package

For all of the displaced Red Sox Fans out there – enjoy this package of collectible Red Sox Gear along with two Club Box tickets to the Monday, July 18, 7:05pm, game vs. the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.


















Summer Fun Basket

The Dog Days of Summer are just around the corner – and this item has everything you will need to keep the entire family entertained and excited all summer long –
including St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School Summer Camp, Nats Tickets (August 23, 7:05pm, Diamond Club Seats), Amusement Parks, and so much more!
















Collectible Lego Systems

Expand your LEGO® collections with a 4000 piece Tower Bridge system, Star Wars systems, Indiana Jones systems, and several other highly collectible items too!



This evening, I headed to Georgetown University Hospital for a parent advisory board meeting. After the meeting, we had a rehearsal for the presentation three of us will be giving at the Medical Grand Rounds next Friday. I spent weeks working on a speech, but it is hard for me to tell Mattie's story and messages learned in 10 minutes. So my 30 minute speech needs to be cut down to 10 minutes. Not an easy thing for me, since in my book everything I am saying is important. Visiting the hospital on a Tuesday is particularly challenging, and then factor into it that where the board meeting was tonight, was a waiting room in the pediatric cardiology department. A waiting room I recall being in with Mattie several times. It was eerie tonight, because as I looked around the waiting room, I remembered all the toys and tables. As if Mattie was still there. So it was a long and emotionally draining day. A day which acknowledges week 87 of Mattie's passing.

I would like to end tonight's posting with a message from Mattie's oncologist and our friend, Kristen. As so many of you know, Kristen writes to us each Tuesday in memory of Mattie's death. Kristen wrote, "Thinking of you today. Planning to be at the walk next Sunday...I am looking forward to seeing the culmination of all of your efforts! Thinking of you this Tuesday and everyday."

No comments: