Thursday, November 10, 2022

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2006. Mattie was four years old and the boys were dressed up to celebrate Peter's birthday. I love the fall colors in this photo and it should be no surprise why we chose orange to be the official Mattie Miracle Foundation color. It was a color that Mattie loved wearing! Not to mention the fact that Mattie LOVED eating anything made from pumpkin. When I reflect on our birthdays now without Mattie around, they are very different. Not just different because we are older, and there is the natural process of not making a big deal over birthdays. But without Mattie around, things are just not the same. We look at the world through a clouded lens. 

Quote of the day: Grief can derange even the strongest and most disciplined of minds. ~ George R.R. Martin

This morning two friends came over to work with Peter and me on opening up boxes and sorting all donated items, so we could provide equal donations to all three hospitals that we support (MedStar Georgetown, Children's Hospital at Sinai, and the National Institutes of Health). This is what our room initially looked like. 

Certainly Peter and I could do the sorting and organizing ourselves, but it was lovely to have adult conversation in the house. It was like a breath of fresh air. However, I must admit no matter how comfortable I am with the people visiting, I always feel stressed out because I am balancing my parents and their needs. 

I would say in about an hour, things were organized. This is SO SO different from our Fall Item Drive pre-COVID. Back then we would get thousands of pounds of candy and sorting it was like watching an episode of I Love Lucy! 

This stack of items is going to MedStar Georgetown, in Washington, DC. 

This stack of items is going to Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD. 

This stack of items is going to the National Institutes of Health. It is my hope that next week we can load up the car and begin donating the items to support our Snack & Item Carts at all three hospitals.