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

March 18, 2024

Monday, March 18, 2024

Monday, March 18, 2024

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. I will never forget this day. Mattie had a bone scan at the hospital. His scans were always lengthy in time. Try two hours or more. In order to do this test, Mattie could not eat anything from midnight on. In order to make it through the scan, we had to provide him with incentives. As soon as most of the scan was done, the tech allowed Mattie to eat his frosted donut (one of his favorite treats while on chemotherapy!). This particular scan took forever because the tech was seeing all sorts of things lighting up on the screen! Which could indicate disease progression. The tech and radiologist were in constant communication and finally the radiologist had to call Mattie's surgeon to discuss what he was seeing. I honestly did not think I was going to make it that day. However, what they concluded was the scan was picking up on all the metals in Mattie's prosthetics. Until I heard that conclusion, my heart was ready to jump out of my chest from stress and anxiety. 


Quote of the day: The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest. ~ Martin Luther


This photo was taken on the first day we brought Sunny to our home. We decided to take him for a walk. As you can see, Sunny wasn't exactly a happy camper. Who could have blamed him as he had gone through a lot in a matter of weeks, from being transported from South Carolina, then being fostered by another family, and then finally adopted by us. Also note that when we adopted Sunny, he was heartworm positive, which meant I had to take him for two toxic infusions, and there was a big recovery time. All I can say is that Sunny and I went through a lot together, and it was worth every minute!


Today I drove to the city, as my mom and I both had hair appointments. I literally only cut my hair twice a year. Frankly I am in such a state now, that I don't have the patience to be dealing with my hair. I have been going to the same hairstylist since I was in my twenties. In a way, I feel like I have grown up with her. I know her family and she knows about my life. I am so stressed out and anxious these days that sitting still for two hours was very difficult. Truthfully at one point, I could feel a panic attack coming over me. But I managed through it. 

One of the topics we discussed today in the salon was caregiving. This is something my hairdresser knows all too well. We both know about supporting children with special needs and older adults. All I can say is caregiving is not for the meek. It has been another challenging day for me emotionally and I would like to have one day where I am not facing extreme stress, anxiety, and anger. Such a day would be a gift, but I am afraid my future is just more of the same. With no real joy, happiness, stability, or love. 

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