Saturday, November 16, 2013

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2008. At that point Mattie had his second limb salvaging surgery. Which means that his right arm, left arm, left wrist, and right leg were all operated on! Specifically his arm bones, wrist, and leg bones were removed from his body and they were replaced with some type of prosthetic. Mobility was a major issue for Mattie and at that point Mattie's cancer journey became even more horrific. Being so disabled depressed Mattie, who was an active six year old. Needless to say Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2008 were absolute nightmares for us. Mattie was living through PTSD like symptoms and his level of depression was hard and heart breaking to manage. I have no doubt these memories will always impact my view of the holiday season for the rest of my life. What I love about this photo was Patches, our calico cat, came to join Mattie on his hospital bed, which was in our living room. We kept Patches for as long as we could at home while Mattie was battling cancer, but since we were rarely home, we made the decision to board Patches at her vet for over a year. Patches was a sickly cat and needed medication and constant care. Rest assured if Nurse Patches was home, she would be on the scene to provide moral support.  

Quote of the day: When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. ~ Helen Keller


I was invited to a fundraising jewelry party today for my friend Ilona. Ilona lost her only child to cancer in June of this year. We are on different points of the grief continuum, yet we understand each other and can appreciate our similarities and differences. A colleague of hers from work hosted a beautiful event today. The event had all sorts of home made foods and the jewelry was stunning. All sorts of pieces, with diverse materials. Not run of the mill jewelry and what I loved about the young designer is that she comes from a family of artists. Her parent's home reminds me of a residential art gallery. So that alone was a treat to be in such an artistic and stimulating setting. The jewelry designer is passionate about her work and spends a great deal of time, energy, and focus on designing pieces. She even works with copper and we learned today how she hammers it into shape and also fires and seals it so it doesn't oxidize. Needless to say I bought several pieces of her jewelry and she was kind to give 20% of all her proceeds to Ilona's foundation.

Since I have gotten to know Ilona, I have met several of her friends. All of whom are truly lovely women with different talents of their own. I remember what my own grief looked like at five months post Mattie's death, and this gives me some insight into how Ilona must be feeling and processing things around her now. Diversions are key and I am so happy such a party was planned for today. A day which was grey and gloomy.

After Ilona's gathering, I found myself with another full trunk of candy. Ilona gave me some of the candy she has sorted so far and then I picked up the last batch at another friend's home. I can't believe it, but the grand total is 1513 pounds collected so far! We pick up our last batch tomorrow.

Despite being with lovely people today and also the candy drive coming to an end, I felt a great deal of sadness come over me. Not to say that I don't feel sadness on any given day, I do. But it is typically contained. This evening while driving, which is when it usually hits me (because I am alone), I felt very depressed, very sad, and teary. When I get into these moods it is hard to see anything very good about the moment or in life in general. It is then that I reflect on those around me doing positive things with their children, being out and about, and I realize once again how different my life is. Trying to balance these feelings and emotions are difficult, along with trying to find a way to not completely shut out those around me.

At the end of the day, I would love to adopt a mind set change, to snap out of it, to be able to move on and have a positive outlook for the future. But I just don't foresee that as possible. I connected with a woman recently who is 10 years into the grieving process of her daughter. She basically told me I am being too hard on myself and that from her perceptive and that of her organization, I am still in the early stages of the grief process as it relates to losing a child. She told me she did not see a change within herself until year seven or eight. An interesting notion, but for now, I know how I feel and I know that throughout this loss process, there are cycles and waves that crash upon us. However, one can't always predict when they will happen and certainly as time marches on, fewer people are around to support parents through these difficult times.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday, November 15, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie was home between treatments and we were sitting in his bedroom working on a puzzle. At that point Mattie was only three months into treatment and his room was somewhat organized at that point. However, quickly his room evolved into something that looked more like a warehouse. One of the things Mattie loved was puzzles. We really did not need to teach Mattie how to do a puzzle, he seemed to have an innate ability to assemble them! As I look at this photo tonight I realize how different Mattie's room has now become after the months of transformation. Am I proud of the work Peter and I did on Mattie's room? YES, but at the core, I wish I never had to do it.  


Quote of the day: Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. ~ Booker T. Washington


I went to visit my friends Tina and Heidi today. Both of them had their final candy collections for me. The beauty of what I picked up today, besides the quantity, was that it was all sorted!!! Transporting candy is no easy feat because it weighs quite a bit in bulk, but to receive it sorted is a major gift. I can officially say that today was my last day of sorting candy! I have two more collections that I am waiting for, but these collections will come to me sorted. Therefore I think it is safe to say that for 2013, I am done with sorting. I just can't believe it and I particularly can't get over how much candy was sorted!! I am terrible at estimating weight, but by this weekend we will start calculating poundage. All I know is the candy seems to be taking up MUCH MORE real estate than last year!!! To my candy sorters (Heidi, Isabel, Leslie, Faye, Tanja, Katharina, Tina, Carolyn, Ilona, Abbie, and Shayla) a BIG THANK YOU!!! I could not have done this without you and I mean that sincerely.

This evening while sitting in Mattie's room typing on the computer, I heard someone whistling to me outside the window. I knew exactly who it was, it was my neighbor JP, with his dog JJ in tow. This is my first week working at a desk by the window in Mattie's room. So it is very easy to see me if passing by our window. Once I heard the whistle, I stood up and opened Mattie's window and began chatting from the window to my neighbor. Of course JJ was happy to see me and came right into our deck space and started walking around. JJ and Mattie were good buddies and I suspect a part of JJ will always be looking for Mattie. Neither one of us have truly accepted this loss.

I think one of the biggest changes in our lives after Mattie died, is the loss and connection to others. We lead a much more isolated and secluded life now. I suppose there are many reasons for this, first of which is our original social circle all has children in it. Typically children bring couples together, without Mattie now, the impetus to get together dwindles. But also I think a part of the seclusion occurs for self protection purposes. We are different, we know we are different, and in order to avoid further pain and reminders, we separate ourselves from others. I think as holidays approach the need for disengagement increases exponentially. As I walk around town now, I can't help but see Christmas trees popping up, ornaments, and the discussion of parties and plans. All very difficult discussions and sights for me, even four years after Mattie died. Some aspects of loss do not get easier, they only get harder as the reality sinks in and the hopes and plans for the future melt away.

Needless to say, I enjoyed JP's visit tonight. In all reality I am a very social person and I think it is ironic while sitting in Mattie's room that I should be connected to the outside world in this way. It seems so symbolic, since while I was raising Mattie I met so many people. Though Mattie is not with me now, his window in his room serves as a way for me to connect with those around me. Mattie is still working his magic in my life.  
 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie was in the child life playroom at the Hospital and doing another one of his favorite activities.... playing with remote controlled vehicles. Mattie received his first remote controlled car when he was one year old. A friend of mine gave Mattie this huge blue remote controlled car for his birthday and though he wasn't talking at one year old, Mattie definitely caught on quickly about how to play with such a car. Mattie had many remote controlled things in the hospital. Cars and trucks of course, but Mattie's favorite remote controlled thing in the hospital was his huge spider. Mattie loved catching his nurses off guard and they learned to be on their toes with Mattie and to also have a sense of humor. The moving spider was an instant attention grabber.

Quote of the day: When we involve others in spontaneous acts of kindness, we go from being strangers to becoming a united team connected at the heart level. ~ Molly Friedenfeld

Tonight's quote beautifully reflects the nature of our Foundation's candy drive. People we do not even know are giving us candy. People within our community, workplaces, schools, and moms groups! It is remarkable and through this project we are becoming a united team to help families caring for children at Georgetown University Hospital.

Those close to me are recognizing that I am exhausted from the sheer volume of candy that we have been processing over the course of the last two weeks. Which is why when friends offer to help now, I accept it and am greatly appreciative! The next couple of days will be our last push for candy. But at this point, I am not sure how much more sorting I can do. Today I received this photo from my friend Ann. Ann's mom, Mary, has a caregiver named Shayla. I have known Shayla for five years and today Shayla lent a hand and was sorting candy. I value all my sorters this year. As the candy drive is growing bigger and is catching on within our communities, we are already thinking ahead for next year with regard to how to streamline the process and get volunteers to help us sort candy.

We have a new addition to the top of the blog. You may have noticed the beautiful lotus flower! My friend Laurie is a cancer survivor. While battling cancer, she began to create jewelry. It started as a form of therapy for her and has evolved into her own business called Jewels in the Lotus. I own several of Laurie's creations and I love their fine craftsmanship, the beautiful materials used, and her creativity in their composition. Laurie's pieces are not mass produced and therefore they are as unique as each of us. Laurie is a Mattie Miracle supporter and came up with the idea of having a fundraiser for us. From November 24 to December 31, if someone purchases a piece of jewelry from her website, she will donate 20% of each sale to the Foundation. Please check out her website and consider sharing it with a friend!
 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013 -- Happy Birthday Peter!

Tonight's picture was taken on November 13, 2008. The last birthday Mattie celebrated with Peter. That day Mattie created a cake made out of model magic. Mattie shaped it and colored it and even added model magic candles to it. This cake can still be found on Peter's bureau today. As you can see we celebrated Peter's birthday in the Hospital. We actually celebrated many holidays in the Hospital that year, which is why it became our home away from home.





Quote of the day: When we face our fear of death and slow down our busy lives, we come to realize our relationships are precious, a part of life’s foundation. Knowing this fact helps us to understand that death’s true purpose is to teach us how to live. ~ Molly Friedenfeld

I think the candy collection for our Foundation drive has now gotten to me on many levels. I am tired of candy, I am tired of sorting it, and I am most definitely tired of smelling it. Today alone the fragrance triggered a migraine headache. I was so happy that I had a chance to meet my friend Leslie in Maryland and escape our home for a few hours. As you can see Leslie and her family have also been busy. collecting and sorting!!! Here was the collection I picked up from Leslie. I honestly think I could open up a candy store. If anyone from my complex happens to visit me, the sight alone of our first floor is frightening. It actually looks like we are certifiable with candy and plastic bags everywhere.

It is hard to describe the true pervasive nature of this candy, but it is everywhere!!! The next couple of days is our last push for candy. I still am sorting it and collecting it from others but by next Thursday all the candy will be out of our home and into the Hospital! Everyone who participated in this drive has got to be super happy for a job well done!!!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 -- Mattie died 217 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in November of 2008. In the photo with Mattie and Peter is Debbie, Mattie's art teacher at his school. Debbie and Mattie planned a surprise birthday celebration for Peter. On the eve of Peter's birthday, I look at this photo and remember. Debbie gave us many wonderful memories, including Mattie's beautiful "Mr. Sun" painting. Debbie and Mattie frosted this cake and Mattie was very proud of this accomplishment. It was the last Peter birthday celebration we had and now somehow birthdays do not have the same meaning for us.


Quote of the day: We cannot tell the exact moment a friendship is formed; as in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses, there is at last one that makes the heart run over. ~ Gloria Naylor

I honestly have to empty out my car's trunk each day because guess what??? I keep filling it up. After zumba class today, I headed to my friend Heidi's home. Heidi and her family have been busy collecting and sorting candy! More keeps coming in and I am just so thankful that Heidi has taken on sorting her huge collection. A great gift to me! Mind you I picked up over 40 pounds of candy from Heidi last week. This was today's collection and my final Heidi collection is coming to me on Friday. Get the picture???? It is a lot of candy!!!

Here is a photo of our youngest Mattie Miracle Candy Drive sorter. This is Abbie and she is 11 years old. Abbie is my friend Ann's daughter. Abbie and I have a history together because while Mattie was battling cancer, she and Mattie became close friends. It is an interesting commentary because while I had Ann, Mattie had Abbie. Abbie was a loyal buddy and was never phased coming to the hospital, seeing the big iv machines, or even experiencing Mattie's ups and downs. It seems very symbolic that Abbie is now participating in our drive in this way.
 
Tonight's quote I think is quite meaningful and beautiful. The analogy of a cup running over because it is filled with drops of liquid, is a bit like the making of a lasting friendship. Over time enough trust and kindness builds up that it establishes a very special bond. I had the wonderful opportunity to connect with two such friends today and the fascinating part about being in such presence is it makes me appreciate my good health, my ability to walk, and live an independent life. We take such things for granted and yet daily there are people struggling with horrific diseases and illnesses. May we never walk away from those in need, who need kindness, compassion, and our understanding. I have learned in life that it is only through truly giving of yourself that you receive the greatest gifts life has to offer....... the love of another person.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. That Halloween evening, Mattie met up with his very close preschool buddy, Zachary. Together they went trick or treating. It was a very special night in so many ways. Mattie already had his first limb salvaging surgery by that point and was very tentative about moving around and being around kids with his wrapped up right arm. That evening, Zachary and Mattie went trick or treating with a couple of Zachary's neighbors. Any case, the other kids were getting tired of Mattie's slow pace. Remember while trick or treating it is dark outside and sidewalks can be really difficult to negotiate especially when they are not even. Mattie was afraid he would trip and fall on the arm that was operated on. The other kids were really pressuring Zachary to dump Mattie and instead go with them at a quicker pace. The quicker the pace the more candy you can obtain. In any case, Zachary was young and he could have selected to go with his neighbors but in the end he told them he was with his buddy Mattie and that they should go on ahead without him. I will never forget that dialogue or scene! EVER!!! After they went trick or treating together, you can see that Mattie was beginning his candy sorting process!!! Mattie loved to sort and it is ironic now that he is gone, Peter and I continue the tradition of sorting. Not for ourselves but for hundreds of families at Georgetown University Hospital.


Quote of the day: As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

I think each day it is important, but especially on Veteran's Day may we reflect on the men and women who serve and have served our Country keeping us safe, sound, and having the luxury of freedom. May we never take this or them for granted.  

Last week my friend Tanja emailed me to let me know she had today off from teaching at her school. She planned for a couple of us to get together today. Though I wasn't expecting this at all, Tanja worked the entire day on helping me sort candy. Frankly this is NOT how I would have wanted to spend my day off, but that is the beauty of friendship. Tanja wanted to help me! Sorting candy gave us the time to spend together and to chat about all sorts of things. Bonding over sorting!!! Needless to say Tanja and I worked seven hours STRAIGHT. When her daughter Katharina got home from school, she found me and her mom sorting candy. She could have said hello and then walked away to manage homework and other things, but instead she jumped right in to help. I did not have to ask her! This caught my attention immediately. Tanja and Katharina got a good glimpse at what our lives have looked like for the past two weeks. The candy that we processed today came in large trash bags. I took a photo of one because it is hard to describe why sorting is so complicated, until you see an actual bag before us. Such large bags are not a good way to bring candy to the Hospital. Besides the fact that it is impossible to pick up because of weight, there is no rhyme or reason to the candy, not to mention this would be a terrible way to store the candy for a long period of time.

It seemed like we filled a ton of bags today. To be specific we filled 96 one gallon Ziploc bags!!! Katharina had me laughing, after sorting with us for at least two hours, she proposed.... you just want to fling this candy out after a while! I laughed because I said the same exact thing to Peter this weekend. After a certain point of doing this it can become overwhelming. As Tanja said to me today, seeing all of this could make you want to cry. It is that monumental! Totally agree! If we weren't motivated for the greater purpose, it would have been very easy to give up. In addition to having human help, we also had animal moral support. I was surrounded by a bird, dog, and guinea pig! Tanja's dog was a trooper and kept watching over us today, as if trying to figure out just what we were all doing!  

After hours and hours of sorting, we loaded everything into my car! Candy everywhere!!!

I not only had a full truck, but my back seat and front seat were filled!

When I arrived home, Peter had just gotten home from work. Thankfully because he helped me get all of this candy out of my car and upstairs. Our whole home is LINED with candy! I am really looking forward to bringing this to the Hospital next week!!!

We have piles everywhere and literally our home smells like a candy factory. This may not look like a lot right now, but once we stack it up for a total photo the picture will speak for itself.



 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Next to Mattie was his tinker toy haunted house. Mattie was into making haunted houses that year. He made an elaborate one in clinic from a cardboard box and then he made this one at home. Mattie included paper pumpkins and ghosts on the structure and he even strung the whole thing up with lights. At night would we turn on his orange lights and see the house aglow. But what I also see subtly in this photo was the chaos that was beginning to pile up all around us. I tried to keep it organized but by the time Mattie died, I would say the periphery of our living room and dining room were filled or stacked with hospital items, toys, and other Mattie things that came into our lives while he was battling cancer. The cancer within also in essence became a visible cancer that took over our home.


Quote of the day: Funny enough, I sit on my porch all day, wave and smile at everyone. Some of them aren't sure, some smile right back, some come back later and say; "This morning you made my day, had the best day all week, thank you for that!" Smile and wave, that's all it takes.  ~ Martin R. Lemieux

I can safely say that the Mattie Miracle Candy Drive is transforming several of our friends' homes. I received two photos today. This is the candy at my friend Ilona's home. Ilona and I recently became friends in June. Unfortunately we became friends because we both have lost our only child to cancer. Ilona and her friends are helping our candy drive and as  you can see they are doing a great job!!! This collection alone is at over 100 pounds.

My friend Leslie has collected candy for us now two years in a row. Each year Leslie and her daughter sort the candy for us. Which is a HUGE help! As you can see Leslie clearly has an over 100 pound collection as well! If Mattie could only see this, I think he would have found this totally fascinating! Mattie LOVED to sort candy. He did it with his own Halloween candy and he loved to count it as well. The irony was Mattie did not eat whatever he collected, unless he received lollipops or pretzels. Those items he never traded or gave away!

Peter and I have worked the entire day. For us weekends are just as labor intensive at the weekdays! Maybe even more so. Today while Peter was doing an IKEA run, I sat down and folded and labeled all the clothing items of Mattie's that I would like transformed into a memory quilt. On Tuesday, I am shipping this box to my friend Terri who is a master quilter. Terri has a child who was treated at Georgetown for cancer, and the irony is when Mattie was battling cancer he received one of Terri's quilts. We did not know who Terri was at the time but Mattie loved his puppy dog quilt! I am honored that Terri will be working with us to create such a special Mattie memory. Given that her son battled cancer, I feel she understands the important nature of this creation.

Our Mattie room transformation is well underway. We are using part of the room now as an office. In essence this is where Mattie Miracle paperwork and work will be happening in our home. I am so thrilled to be away from the kitchen table now and to have an official space! Mattie's room is aglow and the color just brightens everything up. We are also thrilled to be able to display Mattie's art canvases, Mattie's special toys, and his creations. It is a work in progress, but progress is being made. I have always wanted a corner desk overlooking our deck and garden space and that is what Peter assembled for me today. Though this is all looks positive, the act of removing Mattie's things from his room and transforming the room are incredibly hard. Needless to say, after a full day of this we are both wiped out, we really can't speak with each other now because of exhaustion, and we just need time now for all of this to sink in.
 

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken on November 8th of 2008. Mattie was invited to his art teacher's studio to paint a special creation. Mattie met Miss Pollack at his elementary school, and they took an immediate liking to each other while Mattie was in kindergarten. Debbie understood Mattie and she read him as a mature and wise soul. Which was indeed correct! She also saw the budding artist within Mattie. Though in this photo Mattie had his first limb salvaging surgery, he was able to use his hand to paint. Debbie gave Mattie this wonderful floral smock to wear and with her guidance, Mattie created "Mr. Sun" that day. Mr. Sun is a huge painting and hangs in our dining room today. It was actually a beautiful gift Mattie and Debbie left us with! Mr. Sun inspired the creation of the Foundation's logo, and in essence the Foundation doesn't only possess Mattie's name but it showcases his favorite colors and his own artistic creativity. I recall the day Mr. Sun was painted quite vividly since we all spent the entire day together and Debbie worked very hard to make it special and memorable for us. Pay particular attention to how Mattie signed his painting..... big, bold, and in blue. A color that would stand out on the canvas.   

Quote of the day: The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served. ~ Gordon B. Hinckley


For some reason, I am simply exhausted tonight. When I woke up this morning, I received an email from my lifetime friend, Karen. She wanted to know if I was planning on building a pyramid today! She was joking with me, but there was some truth to her jest. Because she knows my weekends are even busier with tasks and chores than my weekdays. To some extent this frenetic pace we keep on the weekends maybe planned or needed! Needed because it is a great distraction from what life truly is, which is hard and different without Mattie in it. We spent a good portion of the day in Mattie's room reassembling and rearranging furniture. The painting we did last weekend looks wonderful and slowly the room is taking on a life of its own. We also hung several of Mattie's canvases on the wall today and I am beginning to showcase some of Mattie's meaningful things, which is lovely to see.

But the day did not end with Mattie's room. It continued with a clean out of our bedroom, which is next on my list to address. It too needs to be painted, but that may not happen for a few weeks! It just depends on our energy level. Of course no day would be complete without candy processing and sorting. Honestly there is CANDY EVERYWHERE!!! The smell is overwhelming and at times sickening. Peter has really helped me make significant sorting headway today. But the sorting continues.

There is candy on our table and candy lining the perimeter of our dining room! Someone asked me today about the sorting process. She thought that people gave me sealed bags of candy, like sealed bags filled with Hershey bars for example. But then after reading my blog she deduced that this is not what I am receiving. I receive left over Halloween candy people have and this candy is usually out of its larger packaging and dispersed with other candies. So literally when I open bags people give me I find wrapped chocolate bars mixed with lollipops, hard candies, fruit chews, gum, etc. This is what makes sorting challenging because you literally have to go piece by piece and put each in a Ziploc bag with its like buddies (snickers with snickers, lollipops with lollipops, etc).

We have a whole system and the staging and sorting area is on our dining room table. Certainly it would be a lot easier to just grab all the candies and throw them in Ziploc bags, and fill the bags that way. But the problem with this is if you mix candies for a period of time and store them indefinitely this way, they start to lose their flavor, or worse they absorb the flavors of the other candies around them. So sorting is KEY to preserving the candies!

In addition to this, it is vital to go through each of the candy for the following reasons. We sort out all unwrapped candies, half eaten candies, and candies with inappropriate messages on them such as RIP and the grim reaper (YES I found several of these this year). I am sure these are cute messages to some extent for a healthy child who maybe getting into the Halloween spirit, but these messages are too real for children with cancer and their families.
 

Friday, November 8, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie's lower school campus always held a Halloween parade, so the kids could walk around campus displaying their outfits for the teachers, administrators, and parents to see. Kindergarten was the only year Mattie attended school. We both thought he would have many more Halloween parades to come. But that never did happen. Nonetheless, Mattie was a very handsome looking air force pilot that year and back then we really had no concept of childhood cancer or how such a disease could impact an entire family.


Quote of the day: I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realizes an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past. ~ Virginia Woolf

Today was a day in which I have had to wear many hats. My day started out with a licensure board meeting. For the past year my board has worked diligently on creating new legislation to regulate mental health counselors, particularly those who just graduated from a master's level program. I am happy to say that after all this work, I think we are finally done. I invited counseling faculty members from local universities to our meeting today to share our legislation and to vent any issues or concerns they had about it. It is vital they understand the legislation since it will most definitely impact the students in their programs.

After the meeting, I came home and worked non-stop on one project after the other. The amount of administrative work that is entailed in running a Foundation is overwhelming at times, especially when you have a staff of one. Which is why receiving this photo today made me SMILE. To my surprise, my friend and our Walk raffle chair, Carolyn, is collecting candy for us at her workplace. As you can see she is collecting it but also sorting it. Honestly the sorting is such a gift to see, I practically wanted to give her a virtual hug through my phone. I am inundated at the moment with candy. I now know how it must feel to work in a candy factory. I love candy, but candy in bulk is sickening to smell. In fact I have to close the Ziploc bags at night to trap in the fragrances!!!!

This year I can safely say that my home isn't the only Mattie Miracle Candy factory underway. I now have four friends sorting for the Foundation at their own homes or workplace. Thank you Heidi, Leslie, Carolyn, and Ilona!!!! This is a MAJOR help!!!!

My friend Ann sent me a photo of the candy delivery that was made to her house today by the Bethesda Moms Group! One of the moms associated with this group is a former student of mine. Much thanks Alissa! Clearly as you can see this is another big batch of candy that needs to be sorted. But I am taking it one step at a time. I have to process the 600 pounds that came into me yesterday, before I can move along to today's drop off. But I imagine you are seeing a trend on the blog...... people want to help and candy is a product we can all relate you. Each bag and collection will be an amazing gift that will be appreciated by so many in-patient families caring for sick children at Georgetown University Hospital!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2008. Mattie went to visit his friends Campbell and Livi one weekend. This was before Mattie had his first limb salvaging surgery. Needless to say even on chemo, Mattie was full of life. As you can see he was pulling a wagon with his friends in it. What changed Mattie forever was his surgeries. They left him physically impaired and the combination of that along with chemotherapy was just too toxic to imagine on the mind, body, and spirit.


Quote of the day: Anything that you learn becomes your wealth, a wealth that cannot be taken away from you; whether you learn it in a building called school or in the school of life. To learn something new is a timeless pleasure and a valuable treasure. And not all things that you learn are taught to you, but many things that you learn you realize you have taught yourself. ~ C. JoyBell C.

Today I was all over town collecting candy. My first stop was at the Lab School of Washington, DC. We were connected to this School by one of Mattie's babysitters, who is now a speech pathologist at the School. Alyx recommended that the School give part of its post-Halloween candy collection to our Foundation. I remember Alyx fondly and though she did not work long with Mattie, Mattie got along with her splendidly. She just understands children and especially children who are creative. I had the opportunity to meet many of the students today who collected the candy and sorted it into bags for us. I even took several photos with the kids, their teachers, and the assistant head of the school. I received permission to post a picture with the children in our newsletter, but I did not receive permission for other formats. Which is why I am only showing you the candy on the blog. I am happy to report that what was loaded into my trunk was 250 pounds of candy!!! Rather impressive, no?

The beauty of the Lab School is its incorporation of the arts into every classroom activity. I don't know about you, but I know I learn a whole lot better with hands on activities. It seems to me by doing a creative project it literally cements the concepts into one's head. Not just cramming it in for a test, but it becomes part of you. This photo is one example of such an amazing hands on creativity activity. The display was created by several classrooms to represent the Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where the day is a bank holiday. The celebration takes place on October 31, November 1 and November 2, in connection with the Christian triduum of Hallowmas: All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars called ofrendas honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

What is noteworthy about this display, besides its rich color and creativity, is that it incorporates science, art, and history. All the skeletons in the room can actually move. They are powered by circuits and batteries that the children learned to wire up, and on the walls are glorious paper monarch butterflies to represent the legend of the monarch migration that occurs during the Day of the Dead. In addition, there are photos displayed of loved ones who died in the room. Which I thought was a very lovely and meaningful tribute to the whole purpose of the Day of the Dead. I am not saying this will change a child's mind set about the concept of death, but to me this definitely makes the subject matte more approachable. That caught my attention.

Later this afternoon, I drove to my friend Tina's house. Tina collects candy for the Foundation at local schools and other centers. Tina's collection (though I did not weigh it yet, like I did with the Lab School) I am sure is close to 300 pounds if not more. So there is a lot of sorting going on at our home to say the least.