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

December 26, 2020

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2008. Mattie was in clinic and not feeling good. He had a high fever and was being admitted to the hospital. While waiting to go to the pediatric in-patient unit, he received a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Thanks to Linda (his child life specialist), Santa knew exactly what to bring Mattie. Legos and toy cars!!! Mattie was so ill and depleted that his head was resting on the pillow in his lap. Yet Mattie gave it his best, lifted his head, smiled, and posed with Santa. I remember this moment in time and though it may look like a sweet photo, so so much was happening behind the scenes making this actually a very sad and heart breaking sight for any parent. 

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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 18,943,541
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 331,754

Yesterday morning, as my dad was heading out to the patio (always with supervision), his foot got caught under a portion of an area rug. If I did not stop him, he and his walker would have keeled over on the floor. So my mom and I discussed removing the area rug, getting it cleaned, wrapped up and stored in the garage storage closet. This morning, I was on a mission to find an oriental rug cleaner, so I started calling around. I landed up working with a lovely man named Daniel. Daniel showed up at the house today, we talked through the process, and he rolled up the rug and carted it out. One less accident waiting to happen. 

It was a typical day in paradise, starting at 6am. I am beyond tired from managing Mattie Miracle work, flying back and forth to Los Angeles, and then working hours upon hours here. Catching up on chores, doing non-stop grocery shopping, cooking, serving, and cleaning. 

This afternoon, I served the last of the Christmas dinner I cooked yesterday. Cooking a holiday dinner takes time and energy, and I really don't mind doing it if it is enjoyed. But today my dad told me turkey isn't his favorite, he wasn't wild about my sweet potato soufflĂ©, and also did not like my three layered coconut cake. Certainly I can put this in perspective and I understand, but unfortunately I am human and when tired, I have trouble putting this into context. Needless to say, I am NOT investing time cooking wonderful meals if he doesn't like what I am cooking. That would be counter productive. 

On an aside, do you see the poinsettia tablecloth in the background of this photo? This tablecloth belonged to my grandmother and she used it when I was a child. It is hard to believe that this tablecloth is that old. It looks brand new and though it is bold, it is very festive, and it reminds me of my grandmother and how she made cooking and cleaning look so easy.

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