And at the same time I was heartbroken, as I watched, mesmerized, by what I was witnessing. Here was Mattie Stepanek (who just turned 12 years old on July l7), suffering from an incurable disease(which took his three siblings), stuggling for breath sitting in a wheel chair, hooked up to a ventilater and oxygen, as he read his poems, and spoke from his wonderful heart about peace in the world.

I was just so taken by this bright and courageous child...and I think some of it was that he so much reminded me of my own grandson, Nicholas who is just 10 years old...both boys wear glasses, and both have the same shaped face and mannerisms, and both have voices that are very similar...*sigh*

I could not take my eyes from the screen, so impressed was I with him!!! It appears that I am a late comer among his admirers, since he has appeared already, on Oprah, the Jerry Lewis telethon, and many other shows,as well as having published some best sellers....I abolutely love this child! He is so appealing; so endearing! *sigh* He really, really, got to my heart....

Afterward, I found a website with the following:

"My greatest accomplishment to date is being alive," Mattie exclaimed. "There have been so many close calls on my life and I am still here and living and doing things and spreading my message of peace and hope." His book, "Journey Through Heartsongs," hit No. 1 on the New York Times Best-Seller list. He also earned a first-degree black belt in martial arts and served as the keynote speaker at several conferences.

He is such an inspiration... made a most profound impact on me!!! I wanted to put my arms thru the screen and scoop him up in them, for hugs....

Here are a couple of his poems that I also found on the website...

An excerpt from "Prayer for a Journey"
Life is a miracle,
And a journey through life
Is so full of so many more miracles
If we travel with our Heartsongs.
April 1998
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

When the Trees Sing
When the trees sing,
It doesn't really matter
If you know the song,
Or if you know the words,
Or even if you know the
tune.
What really matters is
knowing
That the trees are singing
at all.
Mattie - 5/6/98
© Hyperion. All Rights Reserved.

I don't know if any of you have ever heard of Mattie, but when he appears on TV again, it is something that you should take time to see...! *sigh* He is such a pure delight, and so optimistic, inspite of his serious illness...

I was truly MOVED, tonight! *sigh*

Luv,
Rainbow~

If you can, please, please watch this show...

Luv,
Rainbow~

Love,
Maria

Luv,
Rainbow`

"We need to listen to our own song, and share it with others, but not force it on them. Our songs are different. They should be in harmony with each other. I would like to be remembered as a poet and a peacemaker, and perhaps even a philosopher who took time to play." - Mattie Stepanek

I adore that child...he really captured my heart!!!....he has soooo much to offer, and doesn't allow his severe and life threatening illness to daunt him, in any way...His appearance on Larry's show is burned into my memory!!! *sigh*

------------------

"We need to listen to our own song, and share it with others, but not force it on them. Our songs are different. They should be in harmony with each other. I would like to be remembered as a poet and a peacemaker, and perhaps even a philosopher who took time to play." - Mattie Stepanek

-------------------

Luv,
Rainbow~

I'm pretty sure it was LIVE! *sigh*

I take it you must be familiar with the little darling....

Let me go back and check my facts....Ooooh I hope you're wrong!

Luv,
Rainbow~

I found the following poem written by him (browsing thru a variety of websites)...

December Prayer

No matter who you are,
Say a prayer this season.
No matter what your faith,
Say a prayer this season.
No matter how you celebrate,
Say a prayer this season.
There are so many ways
To celebrate faiths,
There are so many faiths
To celebrate life.
No matter who,
No matter what
No matter how...
You pray.
Let's say a prayer
This season,
Together, for peace.

December 1999
-Mattie Stepanek

(he was nine years old when he wrote this)

Luv,
Rainbow~

N E W Y O R K, Nov. 16 — In some ways, Mattie Stepanek is like many 11-year-olds — obsessed with all things Harry Potter — but in his own way, he's more magical than the fictional boy wizard.

Mattie's body suffers with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, but his words exhibit an incredible inner strength.
"When I was born, people were questioning whether or not I would live," Mattie said. "I would stop breathing a whole lot."

Mattie needs a ventilator and a wheelchair, and has been in and out of comas. In a sense, his whole life has been a recovery.

When he was only 3, he began writing poems because it helped him get through days where he could barely get out of bed.

Since then he has written two poetry books, Heartsongs and Journey Through Heartsongs. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey held up his newest book on her show last month, and it became a best seller. Book Excerpts

A Young Champion

One of the poems from Journey Through Heartsongs is called "On Being a Champion." In it, Mattie writes, "A champion is a winner, a hero, someone who never gives up, even when the going gets rough."

Mattie said poetry is a helpful and beautiful way to express feelings, whether they are angry, sad, happy or scared feelings. "You can share it with others, so that they can feel better when they're in those positions," he said.

Surviving the Storms

Mattie has survived some incredible challenges in his short life. Aside from his own struggle, he has lost a sister and two brothers to the same disease. His mother, Jeni Stepanek, has a less serious form of the disease and passed it on to the children unwittingly.

Mattie admits that sometimes he wonders why it happened to him. "Sometimes I will think why me? Why did my brothers and sister die? Why am I stuck in this wheelchair? But then again, I think why not me?" he said.

Mattie said it's better that he struggles with the disease, instead of another little baby.

"We all have life storms, and when we get through them or recover from them we should celebrate that we got through it instead of just mourning and waiting for the next one to come along and wipe us out again," he said.

Mattie said that he has been close to death so many times that he has seen heaven, "angels and all." He remembers the angels' beauty: "Eternal beauty, not just outer beauty but inner beauty," he said.

A Will to Live

Mattie has survived, even when it looked like the disease would take his life.

"I think Mattie has the will to live," his mother said. "He has a very strong spirit and he wants to live. I think that he feels like he has a purpose here and a mission here."

Mattie believes his mission is peacemaking. Though he would love to be a firefighter or a policeman if his body would allow it, he gets satisfaction out of helping others with his pen and paper. "I've always wanted to be a peacemaker and I wanted to spread peace in my writing," he said.

Mattie admires others for their peacemaking efforts too. One of his heroes is former President Jimmy Carter, who has devoted much of his time since leaving the White House to promoting peace in some of the world's many war-torn countries.

In June, Mattie discussed peace efforts in Bosnia and Africa during a 15-minute phone call with the former president. "He is a humble peacemaker," he said. "He'll finish a great peacemaking effort, but he won't go and show off about it."

Looking For The Good Side

Since Sept. 11, the poems from Heartsongs, and Journey Through Heartsongs have touched those who have heard them. Mattie had met some New York firefighters at a charity softball tournament just before the terrorist attacks. Three of them perished on Sept. 11.

Mattie cried when he saw what happened on TV, and kept looking for firefighters he knew on the screen. But as is typical of Mattie, he also began looking for the good.

"Even though it was sad, people should celebrate life no matter how bad it seems … there's always something beautiful that you can find," he said.

Luv,
Rainbow~

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.
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.

© Hyperion. All Rights Reserved

THIS KID IS TERRIFIC!!!!!

Luv,
Rainbow~

You bet, I am!!!

Luv,
Rainbow~

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"We need to listen to our own song, and share it with others, but not force it on them. Our songs are different. They should be in harmony with each other. I would like to be remembered as a poet and a peacemaker, and perhaps even a philosopher who took time to play." - Mattie Stepanek

------------

Here is a picture of darling little Mattie who stole my heart when I saw him on the LARRY KING SHOW.

And here is a picture of my darling grandson Nicholas, whom Mattie puts me so much in mind of....

Mattie really captured my attention, because he was soooo very special...and I could not help but notice how much he reminded me of Nicholas, except thank the Creator, Nicholas is in good health....*sigh*

Even with (or maybe because of) Mattie's illness, he is touching many, many people, with his optimistic attitude, his beautiful poetry, and his desire for world peace...he is truly an exceptional child...

Luv,
Rainbow~

Love, Lisa

Yes, the resemblence is uncanny!!!........When I first saw him, I thought omygosh! he looks like Nicholas!!!....and the voice is also similar to Nicholas'......Well ,I have such an overwhelming love for my grandson, that the same kind of love immediatly encompassed, Mattie!......and you are so right about him....he is definitely an old soul!!! Totally remarkable........have you ever seen him? He is such an inspiration...

Luv,
Rainbow~

Ps...do you like my "blue dove?" I just learned how to post graphics, and I'm going a little crazy at the moment..... .....this too, shall pass....

Holy Crow! It's John! Check the outside corner of the eyes! Check the shape of the mouth! Check the Akashic records!

Love & likeness,
Maria

Mattie incarnated long after John left us! It would not surprise me in the least...the little kid is a genius, in my book! And wouldn't it be just like John to come back in this way still sending out his message of peace???? *sigh*

I wish we could all make a miracle, so Mattie would recover....I truly love that child.....He has been writing poems since he was three........Isn't that about the age that Mozart started composing??? *sigh*

You might want to go to Mattie's website, and read some of his poetry....it is sooo moving~~~~~~~~

Mattie/John.....hmmmmm

Gives me something to think about.....

Luv,
Rainbow~

*sigh*

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"We need to listen to our own song, and share it with others, but not force it on them. Our songs are different. They should be in harmony with each other. I would like to be remembered as a poet and a peacemaker, and perhaps even a philosopher who took time to play." - Mattie Stepanek

I love this beautiful child.....and in this photo too, he reminds me of my darling Nicholas....

Luv,
Rainbow

Luv,
Rainbow

Luv,
Rainbow

IF the world were filled with "Matties" none of us would have anything to worry about...he is so, so special.....This child gives me hope....

Luv,
Rainbow