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

April 28, 2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2008. Mattie came home from kindergarten that day and since it was such a lovely weather day, we went outside so he could fly his dragonfly kite. Mattie received this lovely kite as a birthday gift from a friend. Our commons area is the perfect place to fly a kite, based on the wind direction. I am so happy I captured this memory. 


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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 32,225,012
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 574,280


My day started with talking to our research team! I am very happy that we are all on board to apply for government funding for a research project we wish to pursue regarding the implementation of the psychosocial standards of care. The rigor  and intensity of the study requires MONEY, money which would be impossible for me to raise. So now until the application goes in, we will have weekly conference calls. 

After that, I jumped into the car to meet Betsy, our realtor. How did I pick Betsy!? I met Betsy YEARS ago when Mattie was alive and healthy! Back then we were thinking of moving into the suburbs to get Mattie closer to friends and his school. So one day, we went to an open house. The realtor at the open house was Betsy. I liked her whole demeanor and professionalism and therefore started working with her at that point to look for a house. However, life got in the way, and we never bought a house. 

Given that our living arrangements maybe changing (as the owners of our complex are trying to rezone it for high use commercial, rather than high use residential) and I need space for my parents, we determined we need a house. So I literally sent Betsy an email in February. We reconnected and have been working together ever since. 

Last week, we put in an offer for a house. The offer was declined. That is an emotional roller coaster in and of itself. In addition, all the houses I saw today won't work for us. The problem is there is a housing shortage, in which more people want houses, then the number of houses going on the market to be sold. So literally if a house is decent, it gets snapped up within a week! 

Something about me today must have illustrated.... tired and stressed! So Betsy suggested we stop in Reston for lunch and to sit by the water. That was a great idea. Look at the beautiful view from the restaurant terrace. To me there is something magical about Reston. It is a well planned community, with parks, recreational centers, walking trails, shopping, and it isn't that far from Washington, DC. 


Betsy and I talked about all sorts of topics. We are both very familiar with loss and grief, so for us this is a very safe topic to discuss. But Betsy also asked me what it will be like moving from a home we have been in since 1994? It's a good question and one that is an emotional hot button for me. Which is probably why we never moved earlier. Many life milestones happened in this townhouse! Peter graduated with his MBA, I got my second master's and PhD, we had Mattie, we became parents, we had our first cat, Patches, together, and the list goes on! It is hard to leave behind a space Mattie grew up in, and it is even more daunting to think that our whole complex could be leveled completely and there would wipe out our 27 year history/memory here. Seems to me we have had enough wiped out of our lives, and I must admit I don't particularly like change.

It was an 80 degree weather day, and though I had work to do for the Walk, I am so glad I stopped and regrouped today. Sometimes you just have to slow down and take in the world around you. Especially when someone invites you to do this with them!

4 comments:

Cheryl said...

I'm so glad you took the time for lunch today! I've been catching up on the last week and a half of your blog. House hunting is so hard. My kids shopped for 8 months, but were finally able to buy one in March. They were thrilled and we were too. I'll add your home search to my prayers. Love you!

Cheryl said...

I'm so glad you took the time for lunch today! I've been catching up on the last week and a half of your blog. House hunting is so hard. My kids shopped for 8 months, but were finally able to buy one in March. They were thrilled and we were too. I'll add your home search to my prayers. Love you!

Cheryl said...

I'm so glad you took the time for lunch today! I've been catching up on the last week and a half of your blog. House hunting is so hard. My kids shopped for 8 months, but were finally able to buy one in March. They were thrilled and we were too. I'll add your home search to my prayers. Love you!

Cheryl said...

Sorry! I don't know what I'm doing but every time I hit the back button, it sends this they again!!