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

January 27, 2024

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2009. Mattie was struggling with how to walk again. For a while, his physical therapist, Anna, had Mattie work with a typical front facing walker. That day, she got the idea of trying a reverse walker. Mattie literally took a few steps and Anna threw her arms up in victory. Despite all the best efforts, Mattie was too debilitated and managing pain to ever walk again independently. It was a sad reality that we faced on top of coping with cancer. This frustrated Mattie on every level and contributed greatly to his depression, anxiety, and trauma. 



Quote of the day:  Your place I’ll hold, you will be missed, the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed. And as you journey to your final rest, take with you this … I loved you best. ~ Jim Willis


Last night I posted one of my favorite photos of Sunny on our lawn. It was pretty soon after we moved into the house. Whereas this photo was taken only a few days before Sunny died. In order to get to the lawn, I had to carry his back end, but I knew being outside was where he was happiest. What I learned too is as dog's get older, the fur around their eyes turns white. I do not remember that happening with the dog I had as a child, but naturally that was decades ago. Whenever I look outside now, I always envision my regal boy sitting there on the lawn. He loved is backyard so! Miss him greatly. 

Today was a royal blur. Between caregiving and Foundation work, I had my hands full. But I went out to get the mail, and I received two beautiful cards. Ironically they were from friends in Boston, from when I went to graduate school at Boston College. I met three amazing women while getting my MS in biology, and all three of these women are still a part of my life. Keep in mind I graduated from there is 1994, so it is a testament to our friendship. Their support and sentiments are greatly appreciated. I have also received lovely gifts to Door Dash too, which will greatly help on nights were I just don't have the energy to cook. I have been blessed with an amazing support network of women and all the outreach helps me get through the long days here. 

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