Good Bye Mattie

[crutter]

It is with deep regret announce the passing of Mattie Stepanek. For those of you who don't know Mattie was a 13 year old boy who suffered from a rare form of Muscular Distrophy. That did not stop him from living. He wrote several books and has been on numerous talk shows. He was also a great friend to the fire service. He was always very thankful for the work that the IAFF did for the MDA. Although I only briefly met Mattie at the 2003 MDA softball tournament it was a very memoriable moment. I believe that getting to see Mattie is one of the reasons that so many guys looked forward to the tourney. He will be missed this year. For the full article please visit www.iaff.org.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and in your prayers.

[LT Mick]

God Speed Mattie

[wildchild22]

I have three of Mattie's poems I'd like to share with you. I'll miss you, Mattie. Save a birch for me to swing on...

On Being A Champion

A champion is a winner,
A hero...
Someone who never gives up,
Even when the going gets rough.
A champion is a member of
A winning team...
Someone who overcomes challenges
Even when it requires creative solutions.
A champion is an optimist,
A hopeful spirit...
Someone who plays the game,
Even when the game is called life...
especially when the game is called life.
There can be a champion in each of us,
if we live as a winner,
if we live as a member of the team,
if we live with a hopeful spirit,
for life.

-Mattie J.T. Stepanek Sept. 99-
*He was just 8 years old when this was written*

[wildchild22]

Future Echo

When I swing,
I go everywhere,
and yet,
nowhere at all.
It's like being
in the middle
of an echo,
that hasn't left me yet,
and so,
it hasn't come back.
I am between
yesterday and tomorrow,
but still in my life of now.
When I swing,
I feel so happy,
and excited, and peaceful,
and yet,
I feel a little bit lonely
about the time that
will come, when I will not be
able to swing, anymore.
And so, for now,
when I swing,
I move back and forth
in the everywhere
and the nowhere
that is the understanding
of an echo-
the echo of my spirit
that grows from my life,
and that sounds like
a peaceful, but lonely cry.
For the times
when I swing
before I die.

-Mattie J.T. Stepanek Aug. 99-
*He was 8 when this was written*

[wildchild22]

Faces of Faith

I wish that the people who have
anger and hatred and sadness
will remember about their Heartsongs,
and get them back.
Everyone is born with a Heartsong,
but as we grow up,
sometimes we forget about it,
because we don't listen to it enough.
And the people of war, well,
they really need to get them back.
Their Heartsongs really need to live,
because when we die,
they are what rise up.
I want that to happen to me.
I want my Heartsong to rise up, and
I am trying my best down here on Earth.
You really can go to Heaven.
Everyone can.
But sometimes
you have to sit in ThinkTime
when you lose your Heartsong.

And that is sad because some people
who go sit in ThinkTime,
they never come back.
And some people just think and realize,
and then they come back.
But if we remember to listen to our Heartsongs,
we will not need to go to ThinkTime.
Our songs will just rise up out of our hearts,
and take our spirits straight onto Heaven.
I will remember to listen to my Heartsong.
I will remind others, especially the grown-ups,
to listen to their Heartsongs, too.
And for the people who have forgotten theirs,
I will share mine with them.
Maybe they will keep mine, and
maybe it will remind them of their own.
But what really matters is that we
keep the faces of faith, and
listen to our Heartsongs, and live
so that we can die and live again.

-Mattie J.T. Stepanek July 1996-
*He was only 5 when this was written*

[Fireguy5528]

God speed mattie we'll miss you very much.

[Forced Entry]

God Speed Mattie, I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms at the station in the sky, thoughts and prayers to family and friends.
:(

[MONGO]

What a wonderful young man,God speed you will be missed by all.

[CALL911]

God blessed us all by knowing you little man. Could you do us a favor while you're up there ..... Find Us A Cure for MD !!!

I am so happy i got the chance to talk with you and shake your hand.

Mattie .... You will be missed forever !!!

[OCC7192]

God Speed Mattie,my thoughts and prayers to family and friends.im just sorry i never got a chance to meet him

[Phantom]

Hello everyone,
>
>I now have all of the information regarding Mattie's services. So, I am forwarding Mattie's announcement to be run in the Washington Post on Friday 25 June 2004 containing information regarding his service and donations that can be made in his name. Thank you all, again, for all of your love and support.
>
>Mattie J.T. Stepanek, "Almost 14", of Rockville MD died on Tuesday, 22 June 2004. He is the beloved son of Jeni Stepanek; loving brother of the late Jamie, Katie and Stevie; proud daddy of his service dog, Micah; and kin to Sandy, Hedder, Jamie-D, Chris, Cynthia, and Kaylee. Mattie, "a poet, peacemaker, and philosopher who played", will also be remembered by a world of family of friends. Friends and visitors will be received at St. Catherine LaBoure Catholic Church, 11801 Claridge Road, Wheaton, MD 20902 on Sunday, June 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Catherine LaBoure Catholic Church on Monday, June 28, 2004 at 11 a.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, please honor Mattie with donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association: MDA Mattie Fund, PO Box 66002, Tuscon, AZ 85728 or to Children's National Medical Center PICU:
>
>111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington DC 20010. Please view and sign Mattie's guest book at www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com
>
>Sandy
>

[firemedic6731]

I would like to thank Mattie's family for sharing God's gift with all of us. God has touched all of our lives through this extrodinary young man. Mattie has taught us so much about life and being strong. We as firefighters are looked to as heros, but I believe that it was Mattie that was the true hero. You will truely be missed. Thank you Mattie, god speed....