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

October 31, 2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Tonight's picture was taken on Halloween of 2008. This was our last Halloween with Mattie. He did trick or treating at both the hospital and at his friend, Zachary's house. I will never forget how Mattie chose this costume. His art therapists had Mattie come into clinic, when it was closed. Mattie got to go through each costume and decided that he wanted this one! When we asked him how he chose this one, he said that the costume covered his bald head and you couldn't tell that his arm was bandaged from surgery. So in essence he felt like he looked like any other kid when wrapped up as a mummy. I will always be grateful to Mattie's art therapists, who were so compassionate and understood that there would have been no way Mattie would have picked out a costume when other children were around. 


Quote of the day: There is always a lesson of a lifetime to learn in every betrayal. ~ Edmond Mbiaka


As if my life wasn't already a complete disaster. I got an email from my attorney today, and I am now officially divorced. Nothing about my divorce process has been normal and at every stage of the process, so much of it has been out of my control. Which is never a good feeling. Nothing was decided together, in fact, once Peter walked out of me, that was it. No phone calls, no visits, and hardly a response to an email or text message. It is as if he closed the door on his previous life, and has moved into a completely NEW WORLD. You would think that a year into this separation, I would feel more stable, happier, and more secure. I feel none of these. 

2 comments:

Chris Bentley said...

Vickie, I thought you might agree that this poem is something we can agree upon. I hold you in my thoughts often, and know you have a friend who sits by your side, just to listen. You are the sister of my heart.

Sadness came to tea last night
as she’s often done before
but I didn’t let her in this time
I stopped her at the door
“I’m off to meet with friends”, I said
“your timing isn’t right
I can’t allow your atmosphere
it’s not the place tonight”
but sadness wouldn’t take the hint
her manners lack finesse
her pace was slow and heavy
yet she kept up nonetheless
and even when I took my place
amongst my laughing friends
she squeezed herself right in-between
her boldness never ends
and I was sure my friends would see
this spectre at the feast
and somehow think me lesser
for inviting such a beast
but no, their warmth was undeterred
as if nothing was new
I think perhaps they know by now
I sometimes come as two
and even sadness seemed to glow
a lighter shade of grey
to know that she’s accepted
seemed to lighten up her day
so let your sad accompany you
don’t think her hard to bear
no need to face her all alone
just pull an extra chair.
Donna Ashworth

Victoria Sardi-Brown said...

Chris, this is brilliant! It most definitely is true. We carry sadness within us ALWAYS. It doesn't go away (as we learned with child loss) ever! The question is who will accept our reality, and give us this extra chair? Thank you for caring, writing, and support on this journey. I appreciate you. Vicki