Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 -- Mattie died 246 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. On first glance one maybe asking.... just what is going on in this photo? This was a physical therapy session taking place on the in-patient pediatric floor of the hospital. On the right hand side of the picture was Anna.... Mattie's physical therapist pulling Linda (Mattie's Child Life Specialist) in a wagon. On the left hand side was Mattie with my mom and Katie (one of Mattie's outstanding HEM/ONC nurses). In essence a race was going on, and really zany kind of things like this had to happen in order to inspire, engage, and motivate Mattie to participate in the hard work ahead of him in therapy. Therapy was challenging, painful, and strenuous for Mattie. Of course knowing what we do now, it almost defies understanding how Mattie had the energy to even attempt to do physical therapy and put up with our demands when cancer was spreading and taking over his body!


Quote of the day: The phrase 'Love one another' is so wise. By loving one another, we invest in each other and in ourselves. Perhaps someday, when we need someone to care for us, it may not come from the person we expect, but from the person we least expect. It may be our sons or daughter-in-laws, our neighbors, friends, cousins, stepchildren, or stepparents whose love for us has assigned them to the honorable, yet dangerous position of caregiver. ~ Peggi Speers

As promised, I am posting more photos from the Foundation's Fifth Anniversary Walk on the blog. This is the third year in a row that we have offered a Zumba session at the Walk. The lady in pink leading the session is my zumba teacher, Jenny. I remember the first year Jenny did the session, there was only a few of us out there dancing around. As time has marched forward more and more brave souls jump on in and try it!

These young fellows moving to the beat of Zumba, may belong to the School's football team. The head football coach at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, Coach Joseph, encourages his team to come to the Walk and support and the Foundation. I will never forget the first year Coach Joseph's team participated in Zumba. After five minutes of Zumba some of these young high school boys looked like they were ready to pass out on the field. They had me laughing hysterically, because clearly I am much older than they are, and yet I can last through an hour long class! They are good sports and they add a special dimension of fun to our Walk session of Zumba which is why we are always thrilled when they come and participate. Also notice the cute Jack Russell Terrier in the photo. This is JJ, our resident Jack Russell who lives only a few doors down from us in DC. Mattie grew up with JJ and JJ could very well be our Foundation's unofficial mascot. JJ comes to all of our Walks!

This too is a priceless photo! The lady in the baseball hat is Julia. Julia and I met at Mattie's preschool. Julia's daughter and Mattie were in a preschool class together. When Mattie moved onto elementary school, Julia told me about Jenny (my zumba instructor). Julia was friends with Jenny and knew that Jenny's children were at the same school that Mattie was going to attend kindergarten. So in essence it is thanks to Julia that I met Jenny. Of course when I met Jenny originally, it wasn't through zumba. Jenny was actually the room parent for Mattie's kindergarten class! Small world no? It all started with going to Mattie's preschool. Now the lady behind Julia in this photo with the blond hair is Evelyn. On the first get together at Mattie's elementary school, the new students were invited onto campus with their parents. It was a lovely spring day on the field, under a tent with punch and cookies. A magic show was also involved. While Mattie was watching the magic show, I sat on a bench watching and the mom sitting next to me was Evelyn! We still remain in touch today. In fact, Evelyn's daughter, Annie is a teen vendor at our Foundation Walks and promotes the Foundation at her school, and Evelyn's husband, is Coach Dave, who has been a long time supporter of Mattie and the Foundation. So yes these maybe photos of zumba activities, but to me they are meaningful snapshots of people in our lives who have been connected to us for quite some time. 

My lifetime friend, Karen, who lives in New York, came down for the weekend to help Peter and me with the Walk. She not only worked the whole time at the Walk, but she worked before the Walk and MANY MANY HOURS AFTER the Walk (we were both up 2am the day of the Walk)! At one point, during the event she came over and snapped photos while I was doing Zumba! Karen and I have known each other since we were in sixth grade together and in many ways Karen has always known me to dance. Which is most likely why she snapped me in motion!   

This photo to me is priceless! The lady in orange is my friend Heidi! Heidi is one of the first new friends I made after Mattie died. We met in zumba class. I will never forget the first time I entered zumba class three years ago. Heidi approached me and gave me a hug. She knew me, but I had no idea who she was. She knew me through a mutual friend and by being an avid blog reader, but we had never met before. The irony is Heidi felt she knew me because of my writings on the blog. Which I have heard from other people...... the power of writing and telling a story!

The fellow pictured here in the Squirrel costume is Phil, Heidi's husband. Phil was a great sport that day and he and two other dads dressed up and paraded around the track in costume. It really did add to the festivities. But seeing a squirrel doing zumba was truly memorable and this maybe my all time favorite zumba photo for 2014!