Always Missed Never Forgotten.
Matthew "Mattie" Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (July 17, 1990 - June 22, 2004) was an American poet and advocate. At the age of 3, Stepanek started to write poetry to cope with the death of his older brother. His first five books are: Heartsongs, Journey Through Heartsongs, Hope Through Heartsongs, Celebrate Through Heartsongs and Loving Through Heartsongs. All five works made the New York Times' Best Seller list. He wrote that a 'Heartsong' is a person's special gift to be shared with others... or a person's 'reason for being.'
Stepanek wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played." His mother fulfilled her promise to Mattie and edited one last collection of poetry, entitled Reflections of a Peacemaker, another NY Times bestseller. His final book, a collection of essays and e-mail correspondence with Former President Jimmy Carter also became a NY Times bestseller, and was awarded a Gold Medal in the IPPY Outstanding Book of the Year 'Peacemaker' category in 2007. Children's Peace Pavilion offers a membership program called Peace Champions inspired by his work.
Stepanek had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. His sister and two brothers died from the disease, and his mother has the adult form, diagnosed only after her children were born.
In 2002, Stepanek became the Muscular Dystrophy Association National Goodwill Ambassador, due to his national high profile because of his poetry and related appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, and Good Morning America. Stepanek died at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 22, 2004.
In Oct 2002 Mattie Stepanek got to meet the cast of harry potter on the Oprah Show.
Daniel, Emma and Rupert brought him some special gifts: an acceptance letter from Hogwarts, and a magic wand used in the film!
3 days before his death Mattie was able to see "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". That was still in the theatres.It took Mattie nearly six hours to watch the movie, because he was so ill and in so much distress. But the representative from Lollipop was more than willing to give him whatever time he needed so that he could enjoy the entire movie between his spells of distress.
Stepanek wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played." His mother fulfilled her promise to Mattie and edited one last collection of poetry, entitled Reflections of a Peacemaker, another NY Times bestseller. His final book, a collection of essays and e-mail correspondence with Former President Jimmy Carter also became a NY Times bestseller, and was awarded a Gold Medal in the IPPY Outstanding Book of the Year 'Peacemaker' category in 2007. Children's Peace Pavilion offers a membership program called Peace Champions inspired by his work.
Stepanek had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. His sister and two brothers died from the disease, and his mother has the adult form, diagnosed only after her children were born.
In 2002, Stepanek became the Muscular Dystrophy Association National Goodwill Ambassador, due to his national high profile because of his poetry and related appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, and Good Morning America. Stepanek died at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 22, 2004.
In Oct 2002 Mattie Stepanek got to meet the cast of harry potter on the Oprah Show.
Daniel, Emma and Rupert brought him some special gifts: an acceptance letter from Hogwarts, and a magic wand used in the film!
3 days before his death Mattie was able to see "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". That was still in the theatres.It took Mattie nearly six hours to watch the movie, because he was so ill and in so much distress. But the representative from Lollipop was more than willing to give him whatever time he needed so that he could enjoy the entire movie between his spells of distress.