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

April 20, 2013

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. Peter and I took Mattie out for a walk and fresh air. While on our walk, we paused by this beautiful azalea. I always associate azaleas with April and Mattie. These glorious flowers seem to bloom during Mattie's birth month. I used to tell Mattie, that azaleas were blooming in celebration of him. He seemed to like that notion!


Quote of the day: The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives. ~ Albert Schweitzer 


One has to pause over Schweitzer's quote and in light of what Boston has survived this week, I do believe a little something died inside all of us from this tragedy. Even children living in Boston have experienced the ramifications (at such a young age!!!) of the Boston explosions. Whether through observations from the marathon itself or having lived through a neighborhood lock down. This is daunting and I imagine this whole week's act of terror is hard to explain to a child. When our safety, freedom, and future are threatened in any way, these feelings remain with us. We remember them, where we were when they occurred, and frankly we become somewhat jaded because we see a glimpse into the dysfunction and instability within our world. The unpredictability, insecurity, fragile nature, and in some cases the cruelty and lack of respect for human life is hard to understand, hard to rationalize, and also makes it challenging to regain trust again.
 

Last night's TV coverage of the streets of Watertown, MA, after the second suspect was arrested was a sight to see. The energy, the team work, the determination, the police/FBI presence, and the community spirit were evident, they practically jumped through the TV screen. While terror and horror surrounded us, the goodness of people also shone through. I can only imagine what types of celebrations happened on these streets, as we could see the applause, flag waving, and crowds forming to acknowledge each police vehicle that passed by. In the midst of this nightmare, the slogan.... "Boston Strong" has emerged. It captures the spirit and determination of this city, having lived there for three years, I remember it all too well.


Today Peter and I spent hours on our deck planting flowers. Last weekend we had glorious weather and it was dry. Fortunately we painted our deck then, because for the rest of this week it has been raining. Every day! Thankfully with the deck ready, we could plant today! We still have to get Mattie's fountains up and operational, but the garden is now in bloom!

 
Mattie loved looking out of his bedroom window and looking at our deck and admiring the flowers. Peter went to Mattie's room today and snapped a photo from Mattie's vantage point. Our garden is filled with all sorts of Mattie symbols from butterflies, to the sun, and even the moon! Our flowers are even Mattie colors this year with an emphasis on red, yellow, and orange. Peter and I always liked to garden, but now that Mattie is gone, it is therapeutic for us and somehow makes us feel connected to him.

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