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

January 5, 2024

Friday, January 5, 2023

Friday, January 5, 2023

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2007. Mattie was five years old and his school has having a Holiday Event, in which families were invited to a concert and to tour classrooms. I had to learn quickly that week that Mattie's school required the children to dress up for this event. Within days, I bought him a suit set and this zippered up tie. I will never forget that concert, Mattie's participation and his escorting me around his classroom. I thought I would have many more December's like this with Mattie. Thankfully I did not miss this opportunity in 2007!



Quote of the day: Grief is heightened during the holidays because everything seems like it should be different. You’re in a state of chaos. The world’s in a state of chaos. It makes it more difficult to deal with the loss of someone. ~ Lynn Shattuck


I received this beautiful statement from my good friend Mary Ann. It brought a smile to my face today. It is amazing how one loving comment can transform one's day!

My therapist has invited me to take moments during my day just for me. Moments could mean just about anything. So today, my moments were with Sunny. I spent 20 minutes with him last night and 15 minutes with him today. That may not sound like a lot of time, but we had time to bond over brushing, petting him, and looking into each other's eyes. We used to do a lot to that together, as he has such soulful and beautiful eyes. 

In fact, it was Sunny's eyes that caught my attention back in 2016 on Facebook. A rescue organization was advertising the adoption of Sunny on Facebook, and no one seemed interested in him, other than me! Perhaps it was because he was five years old. I have no idea, but rescuing Sunny was one of the best decisions I have ever made. He is a gentle giant and even though my life now looks so different from when he entered our world, he doesn't skip a beat. He still remains loyal, loving, and always gentle. We humans could learn a thing or two from our animal friends. 

I accomplished a lot today and just when I wonder..... will I be able to do something, I find the inner strength, determination, and courage to forge ahead. I remember back in the day when I was the chair of the DC licensure board for professional counselors, my board attorney would always tell me.... "Dr. Sardi, you missed your calling." Meaning, he felt that I had the mind of a lawyer. I never thought of myself in that manner, but to some extent, I can take in a lot of data, connect the dots, and present a solid case. I am also a logical thinker and when things don't make sense to me, I am like a dog with a bone. I will find the answers, it may take me time, but I never give up if I am passionate about something. 

Out of the blue tonight, I received an email from a former student. She is looking for help and wants a letter of recommendation. But here is the thing. I haven't heard from her in ages. Yet she tells me that she and her cousin (who I also taught) have never forgotten me. That I made a profound impression and impact on their careers. This email was a gift! To know that something I did and said influenced my student's life, is a wow moment for me that I don't take lightly.  

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