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

January 4, 2017

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2006. We took Mattie that day for a cruise in Ft. Lauderdale on a ship called the Jungle Queen. It was a neat adventure that took us to an inlet with a nature center on it. At the center, we met a man who cares for alligators and he practically did an alligator show before our eyes. None of us will ever forget it. While we were in Ft. Lauderdale last week, we passed the Jungle Queen multiple times. Each time we saw it in port we thought of Mattie and that day with the alligator man. 


Quote of the day: There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~ Erma Bombeck


This is the sight we awoke to this morning. It was super foggy and pouring. I think Florida was sad that we were leaving. 
There was one lone pelican flying in the rain. It is funny how one can pay even closer attention to the ocean and beach on the day of departure. Mainly because we knew that we were going back to winter weather in DC. No more 80 degree days with greenery, birds, and the ocean. 
After the rain, the clouds opened up and the sun started to pour through!
This is a sign that greets you as you come in and out of Ft. Lauderdale. What I love about it is it says..... Hello Sunny! As if he was greeting our border collie, Sunny! 
This is a photo that one of Indie's caregiver's took of her while she was boarding. Dannell fell in love with Indie. In fact when I went today to pick her up, everyone at my vet's office commented on how much they LOVED Indie. Indie is indeed a loving and affectionate cat and unlike Patches, when Indie came back from boarding she was absolutely fine. Wanted to be loved, petted, and fed, and hung out with me. 

Sunny was a different story. Peter had to drive 75 minutes both ways to pick up Sunny (after flying back from Florida this evening). Sunny stayed with a woman we met through a mutual friend. But this woman lives over the Bay Bridge, which is a hike. Apparently Sunny jumped her backyard fence while he was staying with her and we are lucky she was able to retrieve him. We told her Sunny is a jumper and escaped his previous owner in South Carolina, by jumping over a tall fence. I think she didn't believe us, as her own dogs can't jump over her fence. But I think when Sunny isn't happy he jumps and tries to escape. Which is intriguing because, he never tries to run away from Peter or me. When Sunny saw Peter tonight, he gave Peter an incredible greeting. Peter says Sunny was jumping, very excited, and vocalizing like crazy. Peter told me to picture a war veteran coming back and being reunited with his dog.... it was that level of excitement. It was a long day, but I am happy Sunny is back in his home. He has settled in beautifully and took to the couch. Sunny obviously ate many treats while we were away, and we have a serious weight issue to now address. He begins his walking routine tomorrow!

1 comment:

Margy Jost said...

Vicki,
I am glad you are back safe & sound in DC. That both Indie and Sunny are home with you & Peter. We are taking care of Rounder .& Biscuit in March as their regular dog sitter already had a job. I am glad to do it. I like their regular sitter and actually liked her after insaw especially Biscuit's reaction to her. He gave her a similar welcome that you mentioned Sunny giving Peter. It is important for them to have the right care & connections!

I love the picture of Mattie on Peter's shoulders