Friday, January 30. 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. It was the grand opening of the Children's Art Gallery at Georgetown University Hospital. Mattie and I had worked on pieces of art to display together for this exhibit. The theme for the exhibit was..... what should an ideal hospital room or unit look like? Of course Mattie's media choice was what else???? Legos!!!! Mattie created a model of an ideal hospital room made out of Legos and then wrote a creative story about it that was framed and on display. The grand opening was a festive occasion and pictured with us were:

Back row (left to right): Peter, Vicki, Meg (child life intern), Jenny (art therapist), and Linda (child life specialist)

Front row (left to right): Kathleen (Hem/Onc nurse), Mattie, and Brandon (Mattie's big buddy)


Quote of the day: I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. ~ Leonardo da Vinci


Today I went back to Georgetown University Hospital to visit our friend Bridget and her mom, Cathy. We have known Bridget since Mattie was diagnosed with cancer. Bridget and Mattie were diagnosed with cancer around the same time. So in essence I feel as if I am on this journey with Bridget and her family in a small way. I do think starting the process together makes a huge difference and I will never forget when Mattie was battling cancer how wonderful, kind, and supportive Bridget's family was to us. Some things you just don't forget. 



On my way up to visit the cancer unit, I walked through the Children's Art Gallery. The same gallery I just mentioned above. Guess what? Mattie's framed story is still on display, as is my canvas describing the ideal childhood cancer hospital/room! I know a great deal of this is due in part to Linda, Mattie's child life specialist. I do not know how Linda enables these two pieces to be part of the permanent collection, but all I know is I LOVE seeing them in the gallery whenever I walk through it! I feel as if it is part of Mattie's legacy in the hallways of Georgetown. After all, Mattie was part of the opening ceremony for the Gallery!

As you walk down the hallway above, you see a painted dinosaur at the end of the corridor! Well right next to him on the wall is displayed "Mattie's Story!" How did this story evolve? Well Mattie designed the Lego model below and he loved it so much, that he played with it! As he and I kept playing with it, we started making up stories about characters escaping from the hospital to get pancakes (since the food inside the hospital was SO BAD!) and getting into all sorts of trouble! The only one who could save these troublesome boys was Engineer Mattie! 

This is what Mattie's Lego Hospital looked like. Again this was what Mattie conceptualized a child's hospital room and unit should look like! In Mattie's mind a hospital unit needed to have an OUTDOOR play area with trees and natural space to play. In addition, he wanted rooms with closets and private bathrooms to accommodate my needs and address my complaints. His hospital thought of it all!

Next to Mattie's framed Lego story is my art work! It is still on display today! I created a collage that made various statements! A great deal of the statements had to do with holistic care.... about the importance of child life, art therapy, and the need to provide a safe, serene, and enriching environment that not only meets the physical needs but the emotional needs of children/families throughout treatment.  

When I stepped off the elevator today and onto the pediatric units, I was greeted by an electronic sign that read what you see here! 


I spent several hours at the hospital today and throughout my stay I saw a countless number of people who helped us during Mattie's journey. It really does not matter how many years go by, for Peter and I, Mattie's memory and what he experienced live within the hallways of Georgetown University Hospital.