Friday, May 23, 2014

Friday, May 23, 2014

Tonight's picture was taken on April 30, 2006. Check out that big smile on Mattie's face!!! Mattie was thrilled because that day he went with Peter and they picked out a bicycle together. Our outdoor commons area was the perfect space to learn to ride a bicycle, to use side walk chalk, to fly a kite, and to also ride "Speedy Red." Speedy was Mattie's ride-on car that he got when he was battling cancer. Mattie took to driving like a duck to water. Even attached to an oxygen tank, he would zip around the pavement in his car!


Quote of the day: Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken, it is society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a 'hot mess' or having 'too many issues' are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world. ~ Anthon St. Maarten


Tonight's quote resonates with me wholeheartedly! Maybe because it is a philosophy I live by. I am sure to some I would be classified as "highly sensitive" and therefore perceived as "weak." However, if you truly know me, or know anyone who is highly sensitive, then you know WE ARE NOT WEAK! On the contrary, we take in a lot of information, a great deal of feelings, and as a result we most likely can balance more than most people. What I have found out about myself after Mattie's battle with cancer and death is that I prefer to connect with others who are also highly sensitive! It is far more stimulating to know what someone is thinking and feeling, than to go through meaningless tasks and chores. We live in such a fast paced world where people are losing the art of conversation, the joy of being authentic and sharing feelings, and having the courage to trust and connect with one another. It is a shame, because it is only within such meaningful connections that true bonds are formed. 

I went to see my neurologist today. We bantered back and forth about my daily headaches and my migraines. He is perplexed how I function through a migraine when the rest of the world takes to bed or a dark room! I laughed! I laughed because I said to him... "you do what you have to do!" When Mattie had cancer, there was NO WAY I could have relaxed and rested in his PICU room if I wasn't feeling well. Forget it, that wasn't even an option. I have found that I have conditioned my body to push through the pain, and after a while, my body is just used to it. But I know I am not that unusual, and there are others who deal with greater amounts of daily pain. I am happy though that I meet with this doctor now every two months and he updates me on the research and how to help rare cases like people such as myself. But it is helpful to know that taking over the counter medications like Tylenol just won't help me. The research shows this and I clinically can say this is correct! 

As promised, here are more photos from the Mattie Miracle 5th Anniversary Walk! Tonight's photos feature our four adult zany relay teams! Congratulations to our four successful teams who generated in total $6426 for Mattie Miracle!

This is an overview of our four teams! Peter was the MC of the races and we had eight judges. Two for each team! We thank our GREAT judges:

Heidi and Isabel Anderson
Leslie and Mike Greenberg
Dave Holm
Larry Jenney
Emily Owens
Brian Will

Peter and I developed ALL the races that were selected and performed at the Walk. We picked races that were ZANY and fun. Not ones that required sprinting, distance running, and agility! One of the races was called the "Newspaper Train." As you can see Team Foxy Voxy got into the spirit of this one and WON it!

Team Chris was captured here doing the race entitled, "Hooping it up." The goal here was to pass a hula hoop around a circle of 10. However each person in the circle had to step through the hoop without letting go of team members' hands! 

Team Healthy Mothers/Health Babies was captured in the middle of performing the "Shoe Box Race." Mind you we added to this race. Not only was each person sliding in a shoe box, but each racer was also holding a tray that had a cup of water on it. The goal was not to spill the water! 

RCC Moms are champs at the three legged Race!!!! I know Jane and Catherine well, since Mattie went to preschool with their daughters!

Team Chris --  won a Trophy for the #1 Fundraising Team (contributed $2070 to Mattie Miracle)

Foxy Voxy -- won the Go Team Award For Outstanding Team Work and Creativity 

Healthy Mothers/Health Babies Coalition -- won the Super Star Award For Audience Participation, Support, and Cheers

RCC Moms -- won the #1 Medal for winning the Most Relay Races