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

November 11, 2019

Monday, November 11, 2019

Monday, November 11, 2019

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2005. I have many photos like this, mainly because Mattie loved to create! Not just create, but he loved painting with his feet. There was where he and I differed greatly. Nonetheless, Mattie created some beautiful pictures that went on the front of note cards. If you look closely at the photo, you will see Mattie's feet were a mess. Yet when he was finished painting, he would put his arms up in the air, which signaled that he was ready to be picked up and transported to the kitchen sink to get clean. Never did I have to worry about him running around our home with painted feet. 


Quote of the day: Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt


We started our day bright and early. Peter loaded the Uhaul with the help of our friend, Don. Then we were on our way to Baltimore to start candy deliveries. Being that it is Veteran's Day, traffic was very light, which was a gift. 
Our first stop was to the Hackerman Patz House at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. It is considered one's 'home away from home,' when a loved one is treated at Children's Hospital at Sinai. Families can stay in this facility for a nominal fee, instead of having to commute and stay in a hotel. For the past three years, we have donated candy to this house. 
Our second delivery today was to Children's Hospital at Sinai. Where we house one of our FREE snack and item carts. Adina, our child life specialist, met us and helped us store the candy on-site. Adina is committed to the cart and she even sent me a video today of what the cart looked like fully restocked!
Our last stop today was at the NEW Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. It was a four year campaign to build this 55 room house, and let me assure you the attention to detail in the design was incredible. We got a tour of the house from Debbie, the Vice President of the House. We interact with Debbie and Sandy (the CEO) every November when we make our deliveries.



Take a virtual tour of this facility:
https://rmhcmaryland.org/be-our-guest/photo-tour/

By the elevator banks at the House, there are hundreds of stones. Stones that have sayings on them, written by patients. 
There are over 200 pieces of art hung all around the house. Each of these pieces was donated by a regional artist. The house has 6 floors, each with its own theme. I loved this hotwheels art piece. Mattie would have responded well to it!
On the fifth floor, all the rooms are for children who have cancer. Each room is a suite. In the hallway, right off the elevator, was this heart made out of butterflies. The heart is the Ronald McDonald House symbol. 
Can't miss this heart! It is huge and on top of the house. This is the sixth floor of the house. It has outdoor terraces, with amazing views of the city as well as fountains. I can imagine that families truly appreciate this space, especially after spending a full day in the hospital. 

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