Mattie Miracle 15th Anniversary Video

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

August 13, 2020

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken during August 2008. It was Mattie's first week in the hospital. At that point, we weren't sure what to dress Mattie in. He did not want to wear clothes. So the hospital gave him this outfit. Subsequent photos, Mattie was always in PJs. We bought several sets, because this was his clothing of choice! That particular day in the hospital, Mattie and I created this Mardi Gras mask out of model magic. Back then there was no child life playroom, so we literally did arts and crafts in the middle of the hallway. Where there was a will, there was a way. I still have this mask in our kitchen today. 


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

  • number of people diagnosed with the virus: 5,244,238
  • number of people who died from the virus: 167,029

It was another busy day in paradise! My dad had a visit from the wound care specialist at 9:30am. His back sore is healing, but will take several more months. In fact, because he has a wound, Medicare requires weekly nurse visits and wound care specialist, until it is healed. My hope is that the sore is healed by December. Mind you we have been dealing with it since MAY!!!

After the wound care specialist, then Jon arrived. My dad's physical therapist. My dad was put through his paces today. Jon has him doing an obstacle course on the patio. Which involves walking on grass, and walking around the potted plants. Walking on different type services proves to be very challenging. 


My dad is making progress from where he was in June, but cognitively he isn't what he once was. In addition, he still has trouble doing activities of daily living like dressing and toileting himself. 

As of next week, my dad will have had 15 physical therapy sessions with Jon. That is only because we made a fuss and demanded Medicare cover more sessions. Otherwise, he would have only been granted 7 sessions. Which is better than no sessions, but it just isn't enough to help someone try to regain their independence. 


After Jon left, we were visited by Yana. My dad's nurse. I have noticed that my dad's blood pressure is high particularly in the morning. I suggested to his doctor on Monday that we change the time of day we administer his blood pressure meds. The doctor was having my dad take them at night. However, I changed them now to the morning, and thankfully this has helped stabilize my dad's blood pressure. 


Peter and his parents drove to Connecticut today to visit Peter's uncle and aunt, Dave and Cheryl. They live on what I constitute as a farm. 

This horse's name is Hawk and he is 1,300 pounds! Mattie once rode one of Dave's horses years ago and loved it. Mattie would have loved this trip today! I know Sunny did! 




How do you like this cutie?
















Every farm needs some chickens! My understanding is that Uncle Dave has several dogs. However, Sunny got along splendidly with a 16 month old German Shepherd named Lela! You know if I were there, I would have been snapping LOTS of photos of Sunny in action. 


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