A Remembrance Video of Mattie

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



July 7, 2021

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2009. I most likely snapped this photo because it illustrated how Mattie moved around. To get from the couch to the floor, he would literally slide down the couch until he reached the floor. You can only imagine how challenging and frustrating this was for a 7 year old, who once knew how to walk. This was the part of Mattie's cancer journey that we weren't prepared for, the fact that Mattie never walked again after his limb salvaging surgeries. Cancer treatment was hard enough, but his physical limitations truly impacted his outlook and psychosocial adjustment. 


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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 33,767,147
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 606,195


At some point today, I felt like having a meltdown. Just so much coming at me all at once and trying to juggle so many people and renovation issues! I met with the painting company this morning and the leader of the painting team. They walked through the house and I could see their two week time line to complete the work, was going out the window. They have now prepared me that they need a month. Keep in mind I did not fight them, because I can see the problems they have to correct! Holes everywhere, cracks, and poorly done seams in the ceiling. All these things have to be repaired before painting. So I had to take that in and digest the fact that we truly have no move in date in sight!

Before pricing anything out, I thought we could renovate four bathrooms. Do you know that renovating a bathroom can cost $20,000 or more? So needless to say, reality has set in and I know we can't renovate bathrooms right now. We can't because thanks to the poor condition the previous homeowners left this house, we have to manage big ticket items like electrical, plumbing nightmares, and HVAC. Electrical is a must because right now it looks like a disco in the house. Lights are blinking, and you can't have multiple things on at one time. Which is why we have to upgrade the whole electrical panel!

On Friday, we are getting cable and wifi in the house. Thought that would be easy! Of course not! Today, I heard noise, so I opened the door. It turns out it was an utility person marking where the utilities are around our house, because the cable company most likely has to run a line to the house! DID NOT want to hear this, or hear about the potential digging to accomplish this! Honestly, one more thing, and I am going to crack up. 

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