Mattie's Blog and his Fight Against Osteosarcoma

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am 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 have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that 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 me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.

As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki

May 2, 2020

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2007. We took Mattie to Andrews Air Force Base for their annual air show. This was our first and last air show together. Mattie loved cars, planes, trains, and boats. Basically anything that moved. It fascinated him. Mattie was truly in awe of the planes on display at the air base. It was a very hands on experience, as Mattie got to walk through many of the aircraft, meet members of the military and even see a Thunderbirds air show. It was a day to remember.

Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.

Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 1,126,021
Number of people who died from the virus: 66,045

The Washington National Mall has been our therapy for the last 40+ days. Each day we walk around it and get to see signs of life and hope. Yesterday was the truck rally and today was an incredible fly over by the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds.

There were signs of life all around us. People walking about, and clearly illustrating that social distancing is possible in a city. We can function to some extent without having to be shut in at home. Today's air tribute was about first responders, but in essence what it did for all of us on the National Mall, was to instill hope...... which is vital for the human spirit and survival.

These jets flew over New York City on Tuesday in a tribute to the medical personnel, first responders and other essential workers involved in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. They then moved to
Trenton, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Today was the National Capital Region's opportunity to see this glorious salute to those working on the front line of the COVID-19 response. A flyover right above the Lincoln Memorial.