Tonight's picture was taken on Halloween of 2007 (Mattie was five years old). This was Mattie's last Halloween before he was diagnosed with cancer. That year Mattie wanted to be an air force pilot. We looked high and low for such a costume but the best I could find was a navy pilot's costume. When I told my former student and friend who is a retired lieutenant colonel in the air force, she rectified the problem immediately. My friend sent me all sorts of air force patches to sew into Mattie's costume. So the costume looked more authentic! Mattie was thrilled and proud of his costume that year.
Quote of the day: Candy is natures way of making up for Mondays. ~ Rebecca Gober
This will be Mattie Miracle's 7th annual candy drive this year. I must admit that if Mattie did not have cancer, it probably would never have dawned on me that families in the hospital need candy, particularly chocolate. I think the natural tendency when we think of the hospital is to want to provide patients and families healthy foods. Maybe in theory, the reality is quite different.
As a parent, you are tired, stressed out, and working around the clock to provide care and support for your child in the hospital. This intensity burns up calories and I found when friends brought me chocolate, it made me happier (very relative of course) and it boosted my energy so I could take on the next task, fight the next battle, advocate for Mattie with the next person who walked in our room, and the list went on. I was lucky however that I had a support community who brought me such daily treats for over a year. Other families are not so lucky, which is why the snack and item carts at two local hospitals are vital and greeted with enthusiasm. My point is I learned first hand what needed to go on these carts and I feel strongly about carrying on this special tradition that Mattie's support community started for us in 2008.
This morning we got a Google alert about our own Candy Drive. Rather hysterical. NBC4 did a segment about what to do with all your Halloween Candy, and apparently #2 on this list is to donate it to us! Mattie Miracle had no contact with NBC4, but clearly they found out about our candy drive through social media. Check out the link below, especially second 58. It would have been great if NBC4 flashed our website or logo in this news piece, but it's okay! We NEVER have a problem receiving candy donations, in fact it is hard to imagine SO MUCH candy is out there in our community.
NBC 4 Video (check out second 58):
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/4-Ways-to-Avoid-Halloween-Candy-Overload_Washington-DC-452709323.html
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