Saturday, May 16, 2026

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2009. Mattie surprised me with a Mother's Day gift. I truly did not know that he and his art therapists were working on this project! But Mattie created a clay pot on a potter's wheel in the clinic, he glazed it a beautiful red color and then his art therapists helped him construct paper tissue flowers! To this day, this red clay pot is featured in our living room. I will never forget this moment in time!

Quote of the day: Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality. ~ Emily Dickinson

It has been a tough 24 hours! My dad's back pain from being hospitalized has been a challenge to manage at home. Fortunately this isn't a new problem, I am familiar with it, as it occurs with every hospital admission. I am not sure if it occurs because of the hospital bed, because of the many transfers from hospital bed to scanning machine or operating table, or the fact that my dad is rolled back and forth in bed to be cleaned. Maybe it is all of it, all I know is my dad comes home screaming in pain and it almost is impossible for him to walk. 

However, the one thing I know is my dad needs to move his body. So though he is screaming in pain, I get him up and walking, because he needs to stretch his back. I also put on a pain patch (medication I kept from previous admissions), had him on Tylenol every four hours and when he is in his recliner, he has a big pillow behind his back, and behind the pillow is a heating pad. 

The highlight of my day was a visit from my friend, Carolyn. For 17 years, Carolyn has visited me the day before the Foundation's Walk and always brings me treats and flowers. She also brought other goodies, but I did not include them in the photo. 

Notice the cookies... one is a butterfly (for Mattie) and there is another cookie with a ladybug on it!  Mattie was the king of the bugs! Of course no flower arrangement would be complete for me without a sunflower. These are very symbolic gifts and I am so touched that Carolyn never misses a year. 

Tomorrow is Mattie Miracle's 17th Annual Walk. With all that I am juggling, raising funds is much harder for me these days. My worst critic is me! Naturally when I do not make goal, this deeply upsets me and I view it as a reflection of myself and worse that I am not doing my best to keep Mattie's memory alive. But then I pause and realize that with all that I am facing and coping, it is remarkable that I am able to keep the Foundation alive! The Foundation is Mattie's legacy and therefore no matter what I have going on, it will always be a priority. 

It isn't too late, if you wish to support my fundraising efforts, please visit my Mattie Moon team webpage. Please help me reach our goal.