Where is mattie stepaneks dad

I am an "old soul" too, Mattie, as you are, and I shall remember you and your mother all the rest of my life. You are my hero, too. He surprised me while I was taking photos by announcing the creation of a "Mattie Stepanek Champion Award" and presenting it to me. That brought a lump to my throat. Essays on Heroism. Watch our short introduction video for more information. Ilse Bing was known as the queen of the Leica. Our gallery features art in the theme of heroism.

All artworks in our commercial free, age-appropriate Gallery are contributed by professional and student artists as well as curated from art institutions around the world. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities! When I grow up, I want to be a peacemaker. Copyright c Mattie J. Published by Hyperion. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The bespectacled boy was near death many times during his short life.

Mattie got all three wishes -- and three more years of life in the public spotlight and hearts of the nation. He subsequently published five books of poetry, which together have sold more than 1. He told Winfrey after the Sept.

Young Mattie started spouting poetry at age 3, when his brother Stevie was dying. Prayer is powerful! From the age of 5, Mattie gave inspirational speeches on hope, peace, faith, and purpose to a variety of audiences, ranging from school children to business and elected leaders, health professionals to educators, and spiritual groups to parenting and disability advocates.

In , he began serving as a local ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association MDA , served as the Maryland State Ambassador from through , and from to , he served an unprecedented three-year term as the National Goodwill Ambassador for the organization.

Mattie volunteered as a spokesperson for many other disability and peace organizations, and visited schools and places of worship to engage children and adults in conversation about following our Heartsongs — or living with purpose from God, about the power of prayer and hope, and about choosing peace in attitude and action — for ourselves, for our neighbors, for our world, and for God.

Stepanek Foundation. Site designed and maintained by Lowthian Design Works. Mattie J. Stepanek Guild. Home Life Faith Legacy Menu. Facebook-f Twitter Instagram. About Mattie. All Rights Reserved. The park has play spaces, but at its heart is a memorial peace garden with a life-size bronze statue of Mattie and his dog Micah. It is a terrible thing for a parent to bury a child, but I do have the blessing of seeing how Mattie has touched the world.

Jeni is a mother who has endured more grief that most of us could bear to imagine. All four of her children were born with a genetic disorder — a rare form of muscular dystrophy. The first three, Katie, Stevie and Jamie, died before the age of four.

Mattie survived until three weeks before his 14th birthday and in that brief lifespan became an international phenomenon, selling more than two million copies of his poetry collections and giving inspirational speeches to thousands of followers. You do not have to spend long with Jeni to understand where Mattie got some of those extraordinary qualities.

She does all this despite having the adult onset of the disease that developed when Mattie was two years old; today her health has deteriorated to the point where she is wheelchair-bound and permanently attached to a ventilator. I can move every part of my body — but I do not have the strength to move against gravity. I can bring my hands together, but I cannot clap. But I knew in the end I would tell the story — because I was the only one who lived it with him.

But it is also the story of a mother and son who were living in the shadow of grief. Now 51, Jeni grew up in Maryland, where she still lives, in Rockville. She is as reticent about her own family background as she is about her husband. She died suddenly at 20 months when her kidneys and bladder stopped functioning. He is in the Heaven That is the hole in the ground, Like a treasure. Written by Mattie when he was four. Her second child Stevie seemed fine when he was born, just two months after Katie died.

But within three days his heart rate was falling rapidly, and by the time he was three months he was permanently attached to a ventilator. He died at six months when one of his oxygen tanks malfunctioned, leaving him without air. She and her husband decided to risk another pregnancy and Jamie was born in February , tragically with the same health problems.