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 17, 2021

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. Mattie was going through a pasta and pizza phase. We went to the neighboring restaurant to the hospital and made his food request happen. Mattie LOVED the container the food came in, because he thought it was a clever way to park his cars! Leave it to Mattie! He was full of creativity, and despite how awful he was feeling, he bought into the fact that he needed treatment, because he trusted us and our decisions. 





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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,610,695
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 566,714


Last Saturday, I got into bed at around 10:30pm, Los Angeles time. I checked my emails before closing the lights, and I saw that I received an email from DC Department of Health, saying that I qualified for the COVID vaccine. I truly wasn't expecting this, since I signed up with DC months ago and never heard a time. But last week, I also re-registered Peter and me on the DC Department of Health website. 

Given the email, I jumped out of bed and began following the links to see if I could get an appointment. I saw appointments available, so I ran downstairs so I could register Peter and I at the same time. I logged into Peter's email and he too was approved. So I got him his first vaccine date for today at 2:45pm. He was set! While registering him, I was processing myself on my cell phone. But my phone was on LA time! So though I thought I was booking a 1:30pm (closer to Peter's time) appointment, I landed up at 4:30pm East Coast time. 

After we parked near the Arena Stage in DC (a mass vaccine site), I decided to walk in with Peter to make a case to take me early. I didn't even have to ask twice, the person checking us in was happy to take me early, as long as I had an appointment for today! 

Our vaccine site was run by MedStar Health, and they were efficient, professional, and very user friendly. I was expecting LONG lines, chaos, and a challenging experience. I got the exact opposite. In fact the person giving me the vaccine was a nursing student. We got into talking immediately. Try 20 minutes! I took so long, that Peter thought something was wrong with me! 

The student was very kind, understanding, and we talked about cancer and what else.... Mattie Miracle! She even wanted the website, because she wants to look at the Psychosocial Standards of Care.

After the vaccine was administered, I waited in a large area with others, with nurses roaming around checking on us! Very professionally done and we even have a second appointment made and at the same date and time! 

April 16, 2021

Friday, April 16, 2021

Friday, April 16, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. As you can see Mattie's hospital room was small. Yet despite its size, we always had a lot going on inside of it. Pictured here with Mattie are Linda (Mattie's child life specialist), Meg (child life intern), and Robbie (child life volunteer). It took a lot to entertain Mattie, especially in the hospital, and when not feeling well. Which was why we are forever grateful to the profession of child life! 


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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,565,262
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 566,088

Getting a feeling for how successful the toiletry drive was this year? It may be one of our best years ever! Each day I say I am going to organize these items and stage a photo for the newsletter, but never accomplish this because ten other things pop up! 
I am happy to report that as of today we are at 50% of our Walk goal. We have raised $50,947 so far!

Come check out our Walk:

https://2021.mmcfwalk.com/walk


April 15, 2021

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. That day Mattie was in the child life playroom with the Magic Man (Bob Weiman, the head of Mattie's lower school campus). Bob came to visit Mattie on a regular basis and taught him all sorts of magic tricks. For Mattie, magic was therapeutic. It helped him bridge the communication gap between him and his care providers and it also made him feel special. As his fine motor skills were unaffected by cancer treatment, and Mattie understood that NOT every one could do magic. 


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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,484,108
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 565,185

It was a glorious weather day! Sunny and I went for a walk on the National Mall. I wanted to photograph what is outside our home! There are now over 20 tents for the homeless. This was once a park where residents would sit and gather. Unfortunately now this isn't possible. Because I complained about trash to the city, they have now set up garbage pails at all encampments. Literally garbage trucks come by weekly to empty trash containers! Just like a weekly stop a truck would make at any other residence. 


Every DC park and even our monuments are lined with encampments. During the pandemic, encampments are NOT allowed to be touched according to the CDC. So instead the issues are growing all around us. 
More toiletries are still coming in!
Update on the Mattie Miracle Walk.... we now have 22 out of 50 states participating in our event! 

Learn more about the Walk:

https://2021.mmcfwalk.com/walk




April 14, 2021

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken on April 4, 2009, at Mattie's 7th birthday party! It was a big day for Mattie and he worked on decorating the child life playroom for his friends. His friends came after school to celebrate and Linda (Mattie's child life specialist) ordered cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake. As you can see Mattie picked a vanilla cupcake (as he hated chocolate) and was having a fun and goofy moment with frosting all over his face! That year Mattie had two birthday parties (one in the hospital and one at a friend's home), which I am happy about, as it was unfortunately the last birthday Mattie ever celebrated. 



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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,413,970
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 564,271

While I have been gone, the toiletries have been pouring in! I am grateful that Peter can be opening boxes and sorting items for me. Otherwise, I would be drowning in items right about now. We are very fortunate to have wonderful supporters and groups who contributed this year. Special mention of thanks to:

  • Kearney & Company
  • Suitland Federal Child Development Center
  • National Charity League

Get a feeling for the amount that has come in! Despite the Pandemic, we have had a very productive Item Drive. Since our supporters want to see photos, I need to organize all of this and create an official toiletry item drive photo!
Indie has gotten into the act! Not much help sorting, but she loves the boxes!
I am proud to report that Mattie Miracle has raised $36,955, toward our $100,000 goal! 

Come walk with us:

https://2021.mmcfwalk.com/walk


April 13, 2021

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 -- Mattie died 602 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken on April 4, 2009, at Mattie's 7th birthday party at the hospital. It was a very exciting day for Mattie. He spent the morning decorating the child life playroom, in anticipation of friends to visit after school to celebrate. The children had cupcakes, played games, opened presents and even assembled a 3-D puzzle of a dinosaur. 

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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,344,324
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 563,428


I got up at 3am this morning, in order to get ready, finish packing, and do some last minutes chores in Los Angeles. I have to say that every American Airlines person I interacted with today was lovely. That alone can make flying a much better experience! 

When I got home, someone gave me a big greeting!
The love of a dog!






















Whereas Indie could care less. The beauty of a cat. Though I must admit, Indie is "Peter's Cat."

After I unpacked, we took Sunny for a walk! DC is in full bloom! Nothing like DC at spring time.
A beautiful sight!


April 12, 2021

Monday, April 12, 2021

Monday, April 12, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009, actually on Easter Day! Friends came to the hospital and hosted an Easter egg hunt for Mattie in the hospital hallways. Mattie had a great time. Friends stuffed the plastic eggs with toys, as they knew he did not love candy. I remember this day like it were yesterday!!!








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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,263,579
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 562,504


My dad turned 86 years old today. Yesterday and today we celebrated with friends. 

Last evening we ate outside at Ca Del Sole. It was a beautiful setting, and their friends Gary and Marie joined us. My dad had lamb chops and ate up a storm. He had a big apple strudel with ice cream too!
Today we went out to lunch to the Smokehouse with my parents closest friends, John and Phyllis. My dad and John worked together at Warner Bros and I met John when I was in high school. We used to have dinner with him every Friday evening! So we go back a long time. 

I am very grateful that Gary, Marie, John, and Phyllis were willing to get together with us to celebrate my dad's big birthday! 

My dad received phone calls (from England too!), zoom calls with cousins, emails, cards, and lots of gifts! 

It has been a busy day for me with lots of last minutes chores, as I leave my parent's house at 5am tomorrow morning to fly back home. I have to admit that it is hard to leave them behind because they need support. But I am aware of the fact that I need to get home to stabilize my headaches and focus on the Mattie Miracle Virtual Walk on May 16th! 

April 11, 2021

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2008. Though we celebrated Mattie's 6th birthday at a bowling alley with his kindergarten class, we also got an ice cream cake for the three of us at home. Mattie got a piece of cake, he day of his birthday week. The funny part is I always had to remove all the chocolate from the cake! 



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

  • Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 31,187,983
  • Number of people who died from the virus: 562,035



My dad had a slower day today, because we are taking him out with friends at 3pm. Nonetheless, my dad appears exhausted and his typical twenty minute walk is becoming more difficult. I have seen a decline in him while I have been here for two weeks. 

To help my mom out, I have been doing some cooking, so they have access to good food when I am gone. For days they don't feel like going out. Today, I made a turkey meatloaf with carrots, spinach, onions, and mushrooms. I precook everything, then cut it up and portion it appropriately before wrapping it and putting into the freezer. 

A close up of my vegetable meatloaf. 
Peter sent me some pictures today! Like a trip down memory lane. This photo was taken in Malibu, at the famous restaurant, Gladstones! Ironically I was just talking to my parents about this restaurant yesterday, and then Peter just happened to send me this photo today!  
This photo was taken in June of 1991, at our college graduation dinner. Next to me is my lifetime friend, Karen, and next to Karen is my dad. 












We had a choir concert during graduation weekend. My mom is pictured with us! 
Peter was cooking chicken stew today! Look at his cooking buddy! Sunny isn't stupid, he positioned himself appropriately so he wasn't forgotten!