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Quoted in the New York Times
February 2025
Cancer in children is considered rare, unless you have a child diagnosed with the disease. Then for you, your child, and your family, childhood cancer becomes your all-consuming reality. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in the United States (Siegel et al., 2024). It is estimated that, in 2024, a total of 14,910 children and adolescents, ages 0 to 19, were diagnosed with cancer (NIH, 2024). Although the 5-year survival rates for most childhood cancers have improved in recent decades, the improvement has been notable for only a few cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. In contrast, survival rates remain poor for many other cancer types, for some age groups, and for some cancers within a site.
Approximately 1,600 children and adolescents die of cancer each year in the United States, indicating that new advances and continued research to identify effective treatments are required to reduce childhood cancer mortality. It is hard enough hearing, YOUR CHILD HAS CANCER, but how does a family manage the other four horrific words…. THERE IS NO CURE? In December of 2024, the New York Times published an article by Sarah Wildman entitled, “If My Dying Daughter Could Face Her Mortality, Why Couldn’t the Rest of Us?” Sarah bravely reflects on this complex and heartbreaking question from her lived experience with her daughter, Orli. Orli was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer which is primarily seen in toddlers, and she died at the age of 14.
Our healthcare system is focused on aggressive medical treatment and cures. However, when a child is dying from cancer and there are no more medical options, how is this reality conveyed? In many cases, death can be viewed as a failure in the medical community, making it challenging for the healthcare team to help families navigate the next phase of the cancer journey, dying.
Mattie Miracle was honored to be interviewed by Sarah Wildman and included in her article. The Foundation is proud of our vision for the creation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care. These historic evidence-based Standards define what children with cancer and their families must receive to effectively support their psychosocial needs throughout the entire cancer trajectory, including end of life and bereavement care. We are grateful Sarah has called attention to the importance of end-of-life care. Families rely on their child’s healthcare team for not only the medicine, but for the support, guidance, and important conversations that are necessary to enable a child to die with dignity and for the family to build upon these conversations to honor their child's legacy.
To access the full article, click on Read More.
Partner in Miracles
January 2025
In December of 2022, the United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU) reached out to Mattie Miracle. We were requested to meet with the President and CEO, Tim Anderson. Mattie Miracle quickly learned that USSFCU is a bank with a heart, who cares about making a meaningful impact on the community.
The USSFCU experienced the death of several colleagues to cancer and their Board wanted to acknowledge this great loss by supporting the work of a reputable non-profit in the community. We are grateful that USSFCU has chosen to partner with Mattie Miracle three years in a row.
On December 4, 2024, Mattie Miracle accepted a $10,000 check from Tim Anderson. We are grateful to partner with a bank that values the health, well-being, and quality of life of children with cancer and their families.
14 Years!
November 2023
On November 2, 2023, Mattie Miracle celebrated its 14th birthday! We are the only national non-profit dedicated to psychosocial support, awareness, advocacy, and funding innovative psychosocial research for childhood cancer. We are grateful to our sponsors and supporters for making the Mattie Miracles possible.
Together we have:
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Raised over $1M for childhood cancer
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Supported 38,000 children with cancer and their families
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Delivered 26,000 snacks to in-patient families
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Funded 6 child life specialists
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Awarded 14 M&M Wishes
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Funded 3 psychosocial therapy grants to children with cancer
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Awarded $165,000 in psychosocial research grants
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Published the first evidence-based Psychosocial Standards of Care
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Raised $131,249
May 2023
Thank you for participating in our Virtual Walk on May 21, 2023. Our message that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine reached far beyond Washington, DC. We are thrilled that friends and families gathered virtually in 36 states to walk in support of the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families.
The photos and messages sent to us by Walk participants are amazing and we invite you to watch our Walk Video that captures the excitement. A big thank you to our sponsors and donors who enabled us to exceed our goal and raise $131,249.
We Love Innovation
February 2023
Mattie Miracle is committed to the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and their Families at every treatment site in the country. These evidence-based Standards define what children with cancer and their families must receive to effectively support their psychosocial needs from the time of diagnosis, through survivorship, or end of life and bereavement care.
On February 14 (Valentine's Day), Mattie Miracle is providing $42,000 in research funding to the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). The funds directly support innovative grants that will assist in the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care. Mattie Miracle is honored to house our implementation grants at APOS and to have APOS as our professional partner.
Raised $144,500
May 2022
Thank you for participating in our Virtual Walk on May 15,2022. Our message that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine reached far beyond Washington, DC. We are thrilled that friends and families gathered virtually in 41 states and six countries to walk in support of the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families.
The photos and messages sent to us by Walk participants are amazing and we invite you to watch our Walk Video that captures the excitement. A big thank you to our sponsors and donors who enabled us to exceed our goal and raise $114,500.
Funding Child Life
December, 2021
The Foundation donated $53,000 to Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD) to support our endowed Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. This is our second endowed Fund we have established, as the first was created in 2011, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC). To date, we have contributed over $400,000 to directly support children with cancer and their families.
Mattie Miracle Took the Plunge!
September 9, 2021
Mattie Miracle applied to Thrivent's Take the Plunge Challenge! Around 70 applications were received and we were one of the five non-profits selected to participate. We were the only non-profit representing the National Capital Area!
The Take the Plunge Challenge was on Thursday, September 9 from 8-9pmEDT. It was a live online ZOOM event. The event was hosted by the Thrivent Member Network and Groundbreaking Entrepreneurial Expert, Shark and New York Times Bestselling Author, Daymond John.
Each of the five non-profits was given four minutes to present, followed by four minutes of questioning by judges and the audience. At the end of the event, the audience voted electronically. The audience determined the winners, and the non-profit with the most votes won $10,000!
We had 200 supporters who registered for the event and voted. Thank you for helping us win $7,500 to fund our new initiative. The NEW initiative is a Psychosocial Referral and Resource Program. Our goal is to match families coping with childhood cancer to qualified mental health providers in the community and pay for up to six therapy sessions.
To read the pitch that co-founder, Victoria Sardi-Brown delivered, click on
"Perfect Pitch." This was how Daymond John described Mattie Miracle's presentation.
12th Annual Walk
May 16, 2021
Mattie Miracle's 12th Annual Walk was a huge success! Together we raised over $125,000, had participation in 50 states and 6 countries, and spread awareness that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine.
We are grateful to all our sponsors, supporters, and friends of the Foundation. Thanks to you we are able to continue providing direct support of children with cancer and their families, as well as change the way psychosocial care is provided to children around the country.
Check out our video to see the energy from the virtual walk and how our supporters turned the USA orange.
Importance of Community Partnerships
February 2, 2021
Mattie Miracle is grateful for Kearney & Company's generosity and support since 2015. Every Fall, Kearney & Company hosts a poker tournament to benefit Mattie Miracle. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the the poker tournament was converted into a virtual trivia night. On December 17, 2020, the co-founders of the Foundation were invited to the virtual trivia night to give a greeting and to thank our long time sponsor for their annual support.
Virtually we had the opportunity to meet Brian Kearney, the COO of the company, and over 100 participants at the event. Brian shared the exciting news that Kearney & Company is contributing $10,000 to the Foundation to support our amazing work. In addition, Kearney & Company wanted us to know that they are committed to the cause for the long-term. Mattie Miracle is proud to partner with a company that has such a big heart and is committed to making a difference in the lives of children with cancer and their families.
It was a very moving experience for Mattie Miracle as we received numerous chat messages that evening from participants, such as:
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Thanks for all that you do!
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Honored to be remembering Mattie tonight.
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What an incredible way to change the world.
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Thank you for being a positive force!
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You are superheroes.
Kearney & Company makes the Mattie Miracles possible. We realize community service is a vital part of Kearney & Company's culture and we are thankful they have chosen to partner with Mattie Miracle.
Committed to Direct Support
December 2020
The Foundation donated $46,000 to Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD) to support our endowed Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. This is our second endowed Fund that we have established, as the first was created in 2011, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC). To date, we have contributed over $300,000 to these Funds to directly support children with cancer and their families.
The Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund pays the salary of Adina Levitan, a child life professional at Children’s Hospital at Sinai. Adina works one on one with 200 patients and families a year and through the Mattie Miracle Snack & Item Cart, provides snacks, treats and toiletries annually to 1,500 families caring for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management, coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. In addition, these professionals provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.
Child life services are associated with improved quality, outcomes, and patient and family experiences as well as decrease costs in pediatric care. There is evidence that child life services help to contain costs by reducing the length of stay, decreasing the need for sedation and analgesics, and increasing patient satisfaction ratings. Patient experience data and interdisciplinary team member feedback further confirm the positive effects of child life programs on children, families, and staff.
Champagne & Oysters 10th Anniversary Celebration - raised $33,000
November 7, 2019
In honor of Mattie Miracle's decade of service, Friends of the Foundation hosted a Champagne and Oysters Celebration, at a beautiful home in Alexandria, VA. This was the first fundraising event that was planned for Mattie Miracle, without Foundation involvement. There were 80 attendees and the event was a wonderful way for sustaining and new supporters to learn more about Mattie Miracle's mission, achievements, and psychosocial vision of care.
Greetings were given by:
Victoria Sardi-Brown, Co-Founder & President
Dr. Aziza Shad, Chief of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Sinai
Adina Levitan, Mattie Miracle Child Life Specialist
Dr. Lori Wiener, Director of Psychosocial Support & Research Program, NIH
Ann Henshaw, Board Member
Brett Thompson, Board Member
Special Thanks to:
Debbie and Peter Keefe
Candy Drive yields 9 tons!
November 15, 2019
This year, 18,000 pounds of candy was donated to Mattie Miracle. Thanks to our volunteers, this candy was inspected, sorted by type into Ziploc bags to preserve the candy for our recipients, and delivered throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The candy is intended to provide a sweet treat to family members caring for children with cancer. Specifically, a good portion of this candy is used to stock our two Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Carts. One Cart is located at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC and the second Cart is at Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD.
This Drive provides a year's worth of candy for our Carts. The Carts are pushed three times a week in the in-patient units of the Hospitals and offer free candy, nutritional snacks, drinks, and toiletry items to families. Families are deeply appreciative to receive these basic items because it is very difficult to leave their children's bedside to try to meet their daily needs.
There were 18 Recipients of Mattie Miracle Candy this year:
Washington, DC
1. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. HSC Pediatric Center
4. Children's National Medical Center
5. Covenant House
6. Sasha Bruce
Maryland
1. Children’s Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore
2. Hackerman Patz House, Baltimore
3. Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore
4. Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda
5. Nourish Now, Rockville
6. St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth, and Family, Hyattsville
Northern Virginia
1. Ronald McDonald House, Falls Church
2. Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester
3. Pediatric Specialists of Northern Virginia (PSV), Falls Church
4. Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Reston
5. Cornerstones, Reston
6. United Community Ministries, Alexandria
10th Anniversary Walk & Family Festival raised over $119,000
May 19, 2019
The 10th Anniversary Walk & Family Festival was a grand celebration! We had over 400 people attend, 38 sponsors, 300 individual donors and had a beautiful weather day. The funds raised from the event allow us to (1) Endow a Psychosocial Research Program, (2) Funding Child Life Specialist Positions, (3) Support multiple In-Patient Snack Carts, and (4) Operationalize Psychosocial Standards of Care Nationwide. We thank all of our supporters for their decade of commitment, loyalty, and generosity. Please watch the video for an idea of how the event went!
Direct Psychosocial Support (April-June 2019)
Spring 2019
Adina Levitan is the Mattie Miracle Child Life Professional at Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD). We are proud to support Adina's position as she enhances treatment outcomes and the quality of life for children with cancer and their families on a daily basis. We welcome you to view our recent three month overview which highlights our funded child and family focused interventions.
Direct Psychosocial Support (April-June 2019)
Spring 2019
At the 16th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) conference in Atlanta, GA, Mattie Miracle awarded Dr. Kimberly Canter (Nemours Center for Healthcare Delivery Science in Wilmington, Delaware) with our first Early Investigator Award. The Foundation has partnered with APOS to create implementation grants. Grants to produce clinical tools and models that will enable the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care at treatment sites around the country.
The $10,000 Mattie Miracle Early Investigator Award is a distinguished honor that was granted to Dr. Kimberly Canter. Dr. Canter's research proposal was selected from an impressive group of 12 proposals by a scientific review committee. Dr. Canter's study is entitled, Community Implementation of a Psychosocial eHealth Intervention for Parents of Children with Cancer. eSCCIP (the Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program) is a brief, cognitive behavioral and family systems eHealth intervention for parents and caregivers of children with cancer. This funded study will be a community-centered pilot test of eSCCIP, in partnership with Life with Cancer in Northern VA, and will focus on evaluating intervention feasibility and acceptability, as well as key psychosocial outcomes (posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and family functioning).
Research Symposium held at National Conference
March 1, 2019
Mattie Miracle funded a research Symposium entitled, Pediatric Psychosocial Standards of Care: A Review and Discussion of In-Progress Research Projects on Implementation of the Standards at the 16th annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference in Atlanta, GA.
In 2015, the Psychosocial Standards of Care Project for Childhood Cancer (PSCPCC)—a large interdisciplinary group of expert stakeholders, published 15 evidence-based standards for pediatric psychosocial care. The Standards provide a blueprint on what evidence-based care should consist of at treatment sites.
This year, Mattie Miracle partnered with APOS to provide funding to help support researchers who design high quality studies that aim to help implement any of the 15 pediatric Standards. The Symposium, highlighted Mattie Miracle's funded research projects addressing novel interventions for caregivers, adherence, integration of palliative care, sibling support, school re-entry, and parental bereavement.
Mattie Miracle Celebrates 10 Years
March 12, 2019
We are very thankful for having such an outstanding group of core volunteers, many of whom have been working with us since the Foundation's inception in 2009. The majority of this core group knew Mattie Brown and they work diligently with us to keep his memory alive.
The Foundation is able to host a successful Walk & Family Festival annually, thanks to this group's generosity of time, energy, and skills. Which is why Mattie Miracle's co-founders hosted an appreciation dinner in honor of our amazing volunteers. Together we celebrated Mattie Miracle's 10th anniversary and all that we achieved in our first decade.
TeraThink's $10,000 Commitment
February 2019
Mattie Miracle is proud of our partnership with TeraThink, TeraThink is an exceptionally resourceful team of information technology and management consultants who help clients drive real, rapid progress and make smart, sustainable improvements that lead to less stress and greater operational success.
In 2011, TeraThink (then Dominion Consulting) became one of our first corporate sponsors. Besides providing financial support over the last nine years, they also play an active role in our programs and activities. TeraThink participates in our annual item drives, they are involved in our advocacy work (as they moderated our Psychosocial Round Table on Capitol Hill), and they attend our annual Walk & Family Festival.
This year, TeraThink furthered their commitment to the Foundation by donating $10,000 and becoming our first 10th anniversary sponsor. We are deeply grateful to TeraThink for choosing to be a steadfast supporter of Mattie Miracle, for believing in us and our mission, and for helping us make the Mattie Miracles possible.
Reflections from TeraThink about this donation:
“TeraThink is proud to have supported Mattie Miracle for the past nine years. We know the work that Vicki does helps the childhood cancer community, the kids and their families, to make the most of a difficult situation. Vicki provides comfort and support to hundreds of families each year, and we are proud to continue to support her efforts.” – Dan Maguire, TeraThink CEO
“The Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation is, personally, a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I have witnessed the impact the foundation has had on both families and care providers who together battle pediatric cancer every single day…and I am truly inspired. Reaching their ten-year anniversary is no small feat! They truly make a difference in the lives of others and we’re excited to continue to partner with them.” – Todd Schuerhoff, TeraThink VP – Homeland Security/Digital Transformation
Bourbon & Bites Bash - raised $25,000
November 8, 2018
Mattie Miracle hosted its first evening event, Bourbon & Bites Bash, at a beautiful home in Alexandria, VA. There were 87 attendees and the Bash was a wonderful way for sustaining and new supporters to learn more about Mattie Miracle's mission, achievements, and psychosocial vision of care.
Guests were treated to tastings by the master distiller of Jos. A. Magnus (an 100+ year old DC based bourbon label), they enjoyed the culinary treats created by Relish, and the jazzy sounds provided by sought after jazz pianist, Tim Whalen.
Dr. Lori Wiener (Head, Psychosocial Support and Research Program at the National Cancer Institute) provided greetings and highlighted Mattie Miracle's work on the national level to create and implement evidence-based Psychosocial Standards of Care.
Special Thanks to:
Debbie and Peter Keefe
Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Distillery
The Bourbon & Bites Host Committee:
Christine Cooper
Peggy Elkind
Dawnee Giammittorio
Bob & Ann Henshaw
Carolyn McFadden
Alison McSlarrow
Jane Pisano
Brett & Susan Thompson
Candy Drive yields 7.5 tons!
November 10, 2018
Mattie Miracle's 8th Annual Post Halloween Candy Drive was a huge success. We are deeply grateful to all of our candy contributors who are comprised of individuals, 35 schools, 40 community groups, and businesses.
This year, 15,000 pounds of candy was donated to Mattie Miracle. Thanks to our volunteers, this candy was inspected, sorted by type into Ziploc bags to preserve the candy for our recipients, and delivered throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The candy is intended to provide a sweet treat to family members caring for children with cancer. Specifically, a good portion of this candy is used to stock our two Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Carts. One Cart is located at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC and the second Cart is at Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD.
This Drive provides a year's worth of candy for our Carts. The Carts are pushed three times a week in the in-patient units of the Hospitals and offer free candy, nutritional snacks, drinks, and toiletry items to families. Families are deeply appreciative to receive these basic items because it is very difficult to leave their children's bedside to try to meet their daily needs.
There were 18 Recipients of Mattie Miracle Candy this year:
Washington, DC
1. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. HSC Pediatric Center
4. Children's National Medical Center
5. Covenant House
6. Sasha Bruce
Maryland
1. Children’s Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore
2. Hackerman Patz House, Baltimore
3. Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore
4. Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda
5. Nourish Now, Rockville
6. St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth, and Family, Hyattsville
Northern Virginia
1. Ronald McDonald House, Falls Church Fairfax
2. Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester
3. Pediatric Specialists of Northern Virginia (PSV), Falls Church
4. Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Reston
5. Cornerstones, Reston
6. United Community Ministries, Alexandria
A $45,000 Mattie Miracle
July 26, 2018
The Foundation donated $45,000 to Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD) to create an endowed Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. This is our second endowed Fund that we have established, as the first was created in 2011, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC). To date, we have contributed over $245,000 to these Funds to support children with cancer and their families.
The Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund directly pays the salary of a child life professional. Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management, coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. In addition, these professionals provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.
In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Child life services should be delivered as part of an integrated patient- and family-centered model of care and included as a quality indicator in the delivery of services for children and families in health care settings. We are honored to support Children's Hospital at Sinai and are proud to enhance their child life services so that children and families in treatment have access to such vital psychosocial care.
9th Annual Walk & Family Festival a $97,000 Success
May 20, 2018
The 9th Annual Walk & Family Festival was a smashing success! We had over 400 people attend, 40 corporate sponsors, 381 individual donors and had a beautiful weather day. The monies raised from the event allow us to (1) Endow a Psychosocial Research Program, (2) Funding Child Life Specialist Positions, (3) Support multiple In-Patient Snack Carts, and (4) Operationalize Psychosocial Standards of Care Nationwide. Without your support, we could not do what we do, so thank you! The Walk was a fun time for all, and below please see a list of activities that were available during the walk. Please watch the video for an idea of how the event went!
Food for purchase from DC Empanadas, The Big Cheese, and Hershey's Ice Cream
Featuring the sounds of Rack Impact Entertainment
Corn Hole Tournament with great prizes
Interactive inflatable for kids to have a blast
An amazing raffle that will appeal to everyone in your family
Reptiles Alive Show & Meet and Greet
Hands-on LEGO activities by Play-Well TEKnologies
LEGO train and cityscape displays thanks to WAMALUG and WamaLTC
Face painting
Caricatures
A bake sale with designer treats for purchase
A magic show
7th Annual Toiletry Drive
April 2018
Mattie Miracle thanks all of our supporters from around the country who participated in our 7th annual item drive. The drive was in memory of Mattie's 16th birthday. We are humbled by the outpouring of support to help us stock our two snack and item carts that we offer for free to families caring for a child with cancer.
Specifically all donated toiletries stock our Mattie Miracle Free Snack & Item Carts for in-patient pediatric families at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC) and Children’s Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD). When living in a hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week and caring for a child who is battling cancer, receiving these items can feel like a gift. Families often rush to the hospital when their children are ill and are unable to pack basic items that are needed for daily care. The carts fulfill these needs.
Thank you for making these Mattie Miracles possible!
Mattie Miracle LOVES Nurses
February 14, 2018
Mattie Miracle and Girl Scout Troop #2342 (from the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA) surprised the pediatric hematology and oncology nurses at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital with hand made Valentine's Day cards and brownies. These are amazing women who are the first psychosocial responders to children and families in crisis. A very Happy Valentine’s day to these nurses and it is our hope that they know they are LOVED and appreciated!
The nurses greatly appreciated these sweet treats and displayed the Valentine's Day cards in the unit and posted photos all over Facebook. We thank the Girl Scouts for their time and creativity, as their efforts made many happy.
Mattie Miracle Featured in CURE Today
December 8, 2017
Mattie Miracle and its co-Founder and Chairman, Victoria Sardi-Brown, were profiled on the CURE Today website. The article explains the important work that Mattie Miracle is doing to address the psychosocial aspects of childhood cancer. Mattie Miracle envisioned and drove the development of the first ever Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families, published in late 2015 in a dedicated supplement of Pediatric Blood & Cancer. Efforts are now focused on implementation. Mattie Miracle's vision is that all children diagnosed with cancer and their families, receive an optimal level of psychosocial care and support, from date of diagnosis, throughout treatment, and into survivorship, or end of life and bereavement care.
Candy Drive yields 6 tons!
November 26, 2017
Mattie Miracle's 7th Annual Post Halloween Candy Drive was a huge success. We are deeply grateful to all of our candy contributors who are comprised of individuals, schools, community groups, and businesses. Many of our contributors have worked with us for seven years now and are also Foundation donors who participate in our annual awareness Walk in May.
This year, 12,000 pounds of candy was donated to Mattie Miracle. Thanks to our volunteers, this candy is inspected, sorted by type into Ziploc bags to preserve the candy for our recipients, and delivered throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The candy is intended to provide a sweet treat to family members caring for children with cancer. Specifically, a good portion of this candy is used to stock our two Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Carts. One Cart is located at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC and the second Cart is at Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD.
This Drive provides a year's worth of candy for our Carts. The Carts are pushed three times a week in the in-patient units of the Hospitals and offer free candy, nutritional snacks, drinks, and toiletry items to families. Families are deeply appreciative to receive these basic items because it is very difficult to leave their children's bedside to try to meet their daily needs.
There were 17 Recipients of Mattie Miracle Candy this year:
Washington, DC
1. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. HSC Pediatric Center
4. Children's National Medical Center
5. Covenant House
Maryland
1. Children’s Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore
2. Hackerman Patz House, Baltimore
3. Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore
4. Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda
5. Nourish Now, Rockville
Northern Virginia
1. Ronald McDonald House, Falls Church Fairfax
2. Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester
3. Pediatric Specialists of Northern Virginia (PSV), Falls Church
4. DC Candlelighter's Childhood Cancer Foundation, Merrifield
5. Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Reston
6. Cornerstones, Reston
7. United Community Ministries, Alexandria
Mattie Miracle Presents at SIOP
October 12, 2017
Mattie Miracle was invited to present at the 49th Congress of International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Washington, DC. SIOP is a global organization with over 1,000 members worldwide including doctors, nurses, other health-care professionals, scientists, and researchers.
At the Pediatric Psycho-Oncology track of the conference, Mattie Miracle had the opportunity to present on a panel with distinguished psychosocial professionals on the Implementation of Psychosocial Standards of Care. The panel highlighted: 1) Mattie Miracle's vision for the Standards, 2) the rigorous methodology to develop evidence based Standards, 3) a survivor's perspective of the need for the Standards, and 4) a discussion of the recent findings from two implementation research studies. Studies which addressed both the availability of psychosocial staff and existing practices within pediatric oncology programs, as well as the current status of implementation of the Standards at centers around the Country.
The panel was chaired by Mary Jo Kupst, Ph.D. (Medical College of Wisconsin) and featured:
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Mattie and the mission of Psychosocial Standards: Victoria Sardi-Brown, Ph.D., LPC (Mattie Miracle Co-Founder)
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How we got to where we are: Lori Wiener, Ph.D. (National Cancer Institute)
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Survivor's perspective: Carina Schneider, Ph.D. (Austrian Childhood Cancer Organization)
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Delivery of care consistent with the Psychosocial Standards in Pediatric Cancer: Anne Kazak, Ph.D., ABPP (Nemours Children's Healthcare System)
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Implementation: Training and Clinic Self-Assessment: Andrea Patenaude (Harvard Medical School)
Teen Raises Over $3,000 for Mattie Miracle
May 21, 2017
Ryan Goldstein, 13 years old, coordinated a street hockey team event on November 20, to raise $3,035 for the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation. He chose to do a street hockey event for his mitzvah project because he loves hockey. There were 60 kids who participated and the funds he raised came from this ice hockey event as well as from donating a portion of his Bar Mitzvah gifts. Here are the three ways Ryan has supported the Foundation: 1) hosted a street hockey fundraising event, 2) collected items for the April toiletry drive and 3) participated in the 2017 Walk & Family Festival. When he and his family attended the Walk & Family Festival on May 21, he had the opportunity to personally deliver the funds raised from the street hockey event and the collected toiletries to Mattie Miracle’s co-founders.
Mattie Miracle Walk & Family Festival was an $88,000 success
May 21, 2017
The eighth annual Walk & Family Festival was held on May 21, 2017, at the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes upper school campus in Alexandria, VA. Thanks to our 31 walk sponsors, 18 walk teams, 365 individual supporters, and over 400 attendees, the Foundation surpassed its $80,000 goal!
Where do the Walk proceeds go?
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Continual endowment of the Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC), which covers the salary of a child life specialist who is dedicated to assisting children and families on the weekends. This professional supports over 3,500 children and families a year.
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Creation of a second Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund at Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD).
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Year round supplies for the Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Carts. These carts serve over 2,000 families a year for free, who are caring for children at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children's Hospital at Sinai.
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Establishment of Mattie Miracle Evidence Based Research Grants focusing on the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care.
Check out our short Walk video which highlights the activities, awareness, and fun of the day. We thank all of our supporters for making the Mattie Miracles possible.
Mattie Miracle Launches a Second Snack & Item Cart
March 16, 2017
Mattie Miracle learned first hand, during Mattie's cancer journey, how wonderful it was to have the support of a care community. A community which supplied food, snacks, and all sorts of items to both Mattie and his parents. After Mattie died, the Foundation decided to continue the tradition their care community started by launching the Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Cart.
Mattie Miracle is proud to operate two FREE snack and item carts for families caring for children in the hospital. Since 2012, the Foundation has sponsored a Cart at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The Cart serves about 2,500 families a year and provides them with candy, nutritious snacks, drinks, and toiletries. These items address the basic needs of families while they provide care to their children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dr. Aziza Shad (Chief of Pediatrics) at Children's Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore, MD., requested a Mattie Miracle Cart for her Hospital. We are proud to support Dr. Shad and to provide these important psychosocial miracles to children and families at Sinai. We are grateful to our supporters who donate candy and toiletries annually. Our candy and item drives enable us to keep these carts stocked and operational.
The Carts are considered a lifesaver by the families who use them and the carts are greeted with smiles and appreciation.
Mattie Miracle Hosts Plenary at APOS 2017 Conference
February 17, 2017
Mattie Miracle was pleased to help sponsor a 90 minute plenary session during the American Psychosocial Oncology Society's 14th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Featured during the session were Dr. Lori Wiener (NCI), Dr. Andrea Patenaude (Dana Farber), Dr. Julia Rowland (NCI), Pat Martin (Anthem), Melinda Marchiano (Lymphoma survivor) and Lee Marchiano (parent advocate). The plenary highlighted: (1) the history and development of the Psychosocial Standards of Care, (2) an update on the Psychosocial Standards of Care and their professional endorsements, (3) a discussion on the developments of reimbursement models, (4) an overview of next steps, and (5) areas for future focus and research. More importantly, insights and the challenges faced by a childhood cancer survivor and her mom were shared. The plenary was reported to be the highlight of the conference and almost half of all conference attendees participated in the plenary.
Mattie Miracle Featured on ChangeTogether by Astellas
February 3, 2017
"Addressing psychosocial care in childhood cancer" was recently published on the ChangeTogether website. Change Together, an online resource managed by the Astellas pharmaceutical company, was created to stimulate dialogue and create opportunities to share information, inspiration and ideas across the advocacy community. The story tells of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society's Pediatric Special Interest Group, and how the group's interest in psychosocial support of children with cancer and their families has been fueled by the experiences of the Mattie Miracle co-founders. The article extensively quotes Dr. Lori Wiener, chair of the Pediatric Special Interest Group at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS), and a Mattie Miracle core research team member.
Mattie Miracle Funds a Child Life Position
February 2017
Mattie Miracle is proud to be funding Morganne Bovee at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Morganne will be working with children and families on the weekends. Prior to establishing this position, the Hospital's playroom was closed to children on the weekends and children and families did not have access to a specialist to help them normalize the experience of living within a hospital setting as well as participate in social and creative activities on the weekends.
Learn more about Morganne:
Morganne was a college student volunteer at The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital when she first discovered the field of Child Life. As someone who was passionate about serving children, and already involved in her campus’ Dance Marathon (a nation-wide student-led philanthropy that benefits pediatric oncology patients and families) she was immediately interested in learning more about the profession and its unique role in providing psychosocial care in the hospital setting. Morganne graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Therapeutic Recreation-Child Life and Psychology while also working as a Child Life Assistant. After graduating in May 2015, she spent the summer as an Intern at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC and began her first job as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at Inova Fairfax shortly after the completion of her internship. Morganne most recently spent a year working at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center as the Pre-Surgery/PACU Child Life Specialist before deciding to obtain her Master’s in Public Health from the George Washington University. The Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund pays the salary for this weekend position. Morganne is so excited to be able to continue working as a Child Life Specialist while also going to graduate school full-time. She is passionate about supporting children with chronic and long term health issues and working at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital reminds her of why she became a child life specialist in the first place.
Mattie Miracle Psychosocial Implementation Policy Roundtable
January 24, 2017
Mattie Miracle hosted a Psychosocial Implementation Roundtable on Capitol Hill. The Roundtable represented a historic step that united researchers, payers, legislators, and cancer advocates together to brainstorm strategies to implement the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and their Families at treatment sites across the Country. Implementing these Standards will ensure that children with cancer and their families have access to quality psychosocial care from the time of diagnosis, throughout treatment, into survivorship or end of life and bereavement care. Even if we achieve a 100% medical cure rate for all childhood cancers, children and families will still have to cope and live with the damaging psychological, social, and emotional impacts of living through the cancer experience.
Five years ago, Mattie Miracle hosted the first ever Psychosocial Symposium for Childhood Cancer on Capitol Hill. At that event, we shared our vision for the establishment of evidence based psychosocial standards of care. Thanks to an incredibly talented and dedicated team of psychosocial researchers, the Standards were published in a special issue of Pediatric Blood & Cancer in December of 2015.
There were 30 invited participants to the Roundtable and the day was divided into six topical areas (Outcomes, Legislative/Policy, Resourcing, Reimbursement, Accreditation, and Delivery Models). Each topical area was introduced by a professional speaker and then questions were posed to the entire group of participants to discuss and develop strategies.
Mattie Miracle Legislative Champions
January 24, 2017
Mattie Miracle is deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen and Representatives McCaul and Speier for their continued leadership to give childhood cancer a voice on Capitol Hill. We thank them for their encouragement to host the Psychosocial Roundtable at the Cannon Office Building. The Roundtable's presence on the Hill signals continued Congressional interest in the Standards of Care and the understanding that childhood cancer is not just about the medicine.
Mattie Miracle was honored to award a Childhood Cancer Psychosocial Champion plaque to Senator Van Hollen, Rep. McCaul, and Rep. Speier as they continue to help us expand the message that psychosocial care must be a part of effective comprehensive cancer care.
Mattie Miracle Psychosocial Roundtable Co-Sponsors
January 24, 2017
Mattie Miracle was fortunate to have the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Dominion Consulting co-sponsor the Roundtable. We value their participation, support, and commitment to the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care.
Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund
December 5, 2016
Mattie Miracle presented a check to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for $30,000. This donation supports the Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund, a fund that was created and endowed in May 2011. Between 2011 and 2016, Mattie Miracle has contributed in total $160,000 to this Fund.
Child Life Specialists are experts in child development, who promote effective coping through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children facing a broad range of challenging experiences, particularly those related to health care and hospitalization.
Mattie Miracle is proud to fund a Child Life Specialist who works with in-patient children and families on the weekends.
Weekends can be very isolating in the hospital. Historically the Child Life playroom has been closed on the weekends and families did not have access to toys and supplies. By funding this position, it enables children and their families to have access to the playroom, to have the support of a Child Life Specialist, and to have organized events and activities on the weekends.
Mattie Miracle 6th Annual Candy Drive
December 2016
Mattie Miracle collected 10,000 pounds (5 tons) of candy during our 6th Annual Candy Drive! This is double the amount collected last year. We thank the 22 schools, 26 businesses and community groups, and hundreds of individual donors who made the Candy Drive a success.
Mattie Miracle funds a free snack and item cart at both MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore. The MedStar Georgetown cart services over 2,500 families a year and provides sweet treats, nutritional snacks, drinks, and toiletry items to families caring for children who are hospitalized. Families find it impossible to meet their own basic needs when caring for their children who are sick, therefore this cart is vital in helping families feel supported and appreciated.
OUR CANDY RECIPIENTS:
Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda, MD
Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD
Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
DC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Washington, DC
Growing Hope, Fairfax Station, VA
Hackerman Patz House at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD
HSC Pediatric Center, Washington, DC
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore, MD
Ronald McDonald House, Greater Washington DC
Ronald McDonald House, Falls Church, VA
Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester, VA
Covenant House, Washington, DC
Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Reston, VA
Mattie Miracle Snack Cart
November 29, 2016
Mattie Miracle Board Members push the Mattie Miracle Snack & Item Cart around the pediatric units of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital each month. The Mattie Miracle Board believes it is vital to personally push the cart in order to assess the cart's effectiveness and to interact with the families supported by the cart. Come volunteer with us to push the cart..... you helped us collect the candy, now see how the candy is used and appreciated.
Verasolve Partnership -- Thanks to Dominion Consulting
October 20, 2016
Mattie Miracle thanks our corporate sponsor, Dominion Consulting, for their long-term support of our psychosocial mission. Dominion Consulting connected us with Sara Roa and Debbi Patton at Verasolve, LLC. Verasolve is a marketing, branding, and PR Solutions company who has taken on Mattie Miracle as a pro bono client.
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Recognizes Mattie Miracle
October 17, 2016
The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) recognized Mattie Miracle for its psychosocial vision and effective contributions to the pediatric hematology/oncology nursing community as well as patients and families, with an Honorary Membership Award. The honorary membership recognition was presented for the first time at APHON’s 40th Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN.
$5,000 sponsorship by Goodwin House, Alexandria, VA
September 8, 2016
The congregation of the Memorial Chapel at Goodwin House awarded Mattie Miracle with $5,000. Goodwin House specifically selected Mattie Miracle because they stand behind our psychosocial mission to support the needs of children with cancer and their families. Thanks to this incredible generosity, Mattie Miracle is in the process of establishing a new psychosocial research initiative that will help support the implementation of the National Psychosocial Standards of Care.
Mattie Miracle Featured in NCI Webinar on The Psychosocial Impacts of Childhood Cancer
September 1, 2016
The National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently held an hour long webinar discussing the psychological and social impacts that childhood cancers have on the children, their siblings, parents, friends and others – and how research and therapies are being created to address their needs. Presenting during the webinar were Dr. Lori Wiener and Dr. Maryland Pao, both research team members of Mattie Miracle's Standards project.
Mattie Miracle Webinar for NCTSN - Helping a Family with Traumatic Stress when a Child has Cancer
August 12, 2016
Mattie Miracle Co-Founders present during a 90 minute webinar entitled, "Helping a family with traumatic stress when a child has cancer." Mattie Miracle thanks Dr. Anne Kazak and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network for giving parents a voice on this vitally important topic. Start listening for them at minute 53.
Children's Oncology Group (COG) Supportive Statement
July 5, 2016
Dr. Peter Adamson, Chairman of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), released a declarative statement providing COG's support for the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children With Cancer And Their Families. Dr. Adamson's endorsement of the project and its efforts to document and provide a framework for psychosocial standards are care will help the COG in determing how best to provide services essential for comprehensive psychosocial care for patients and their families. Click the "Read" button below to view the official statement.
Mattie Miracle Strategic Planning Meeting for Psychosocial Standards
July 21, 2016
Mattie Miracle funded and hosted a Strategic Planning Meeting in Washington, DC with the core leadership team of the Psychosocial Standards of Care project. Phase one of the project was successfully completed on December 29, 2015, when the historic evidence based Standards were published in a supplemental issue of Pediatric Blood & Cancer. Phase two of the project entailed obtaining professional endorsements for the Standards. To date we have 10 official letters of support from national organizations and several others are under consideration.
Phase 3 of the Standards project entails implementing our vision, which is to ensure that all children with cancer and their families receive at least a minimum level of psychosocial care from the time of diagnosis, through survivorship, or end of life and bereavement care. To make this vision a reality, a strategic planning meeting was held to brainstorm next steps.
National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) Endorses Standards of Psychosocial Care
July 11, 2016
The National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS) has endorsed the new publication, Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children With Cancer and their Families, for highlighting many of the needs of families facing pediatric cancer – needs that the organization has made it a mission to meet since 1987. The Standards were developed at the urging of Vicki Sardi-Brown based on the issues she faced during the years her only son fought a battle with bone cancer, which he ultimately lost.
Mattie Miracle 7th Annual Walk & Family Festival
May 15, 2016
The 7th Annual Walk & Family Festival designed to enhance awareness of the psychological and social needs of children and families battling childhood cancer, was a huge success! The Foundation was able to raise over $85,000 thanks to its Walkers, Corporate and Individual Sponsors. In spite of 20+ MPH winds on a sunny 57 degree day, everyone had a great time, and all for a great cause! The Grandparents Challenge Wall was met, so thanks to the hard work of the Walkers, we will be establishing a snack cart at the Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore. Thank you!
Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Educational Specialists (APHOES) Bridge Award
May 5, 2016
The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Educational Specialists (APHOES) bestowed their Distinguished Bridge Award on Mattie Miracle at their National Conference in Memphis, TN. The APHOES Bridge Award recognizes the contributions of an individual or group whose work reflects the mission of APHOES: bridging the gap between hospital and school for children with cancer and blood disorders.
Presenter at Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers National Conference
April 15, 2016
Mattie Miracle was invited to the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Worker's 40th Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. Mattie Miracle was honored to serve on a panel with the co-leader of the three year long Psychosocial Standards project, Lori Wiener, Ph.D., DCSW (NCI/NIH), as well as two distinguished authors of the Psychosocial Standards, Barbara Jones, Ph.D., MSW (University of Texas, Austin) and Wendy Pelletier, MSW, RSW (Alberta Children's Hospital).
In a 90 minute conference intensive, we presented to 200 social workers on the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families. The session covered: 1) The history behind the project and next steps, 2) the methodology and rigor used to develop the Standards, 3) a description of each of the 15 Standards, and 4) the implications of the Standards for pediatric oncology social workers and centers.
Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Educational Specialists (APHOES) Endorses Standards of Care
April 1, 2016
The Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Educational Specialists (APHOES) has endorsed the Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families published in the 2015 December special issue of Pediatric Blood & Cancer. The 15 Standards of Care developed by pediatric oncology psychosocial professionals provide critical justification for comprehensive psychosocial care.
Mattie Miracle Donates Thousands of Items to Local Hospitals
March 31, 2016
Each year, Mattie Miracle runs an item drive to collect things for families who have to stay "in-patient" with their children overnight in the hospital wards. We stock on our free snack and item cart hundreds of things like small tolietries to give to parents who may have forgotten something. We also collect and stock K-cups to keep the family rooms filled with coffee, tea and hot chocolate supplies. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to donate thousands of items and K-cups to local hospitals.
Mattie Miracle Easter Egg Hunt
March 23, 2016
Mattie Miracle teamed up with the Charity Through Medicine Club from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, VA to host the third annual Easter Egg Hunt for in-patient children and their siblings at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The Charity Through Medicine Club brings together students who have an interest in the field of medicine to work with the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The Club provides outreach, social activities, and compassion for children impacted by cancer. It accomplishes its mission through volunteering at the Hospital as well as participating in Mattie Miracle events. The club members brought close to 400 eggs with toy treats hidden inside to the Hospital. The eggs, the joy of the hunt, the Easter cupcakes, and the special attention the Club members gave to the children in the Hospital units resulted in smiles all around.
ASCO Podcast.... When Medicine isn't Everything
March 17, 2016
Mattie Miracle was invited to record a Podcast for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). ASCO is the voice of the world’s cancer physicians. ASCO’s patient information website (Cancer.Net) brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer and those who care for and care about them. We were invited to share our family's story and to discuss why we had the vision to create the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families.
Mattie Miracle is interviewed on Childhood Cancer Talk Radio
March 4, 2016
Mattie Miracle Co-founders were interviewed by Janet Demeter on Childhood Cancer Talk Radio about their story, the Psychosocial Standards of Care Project, and the importance of having adequate psychosocial support from date of diagnosis through survivorship or end of life and bereavement care.
Chapter Contribution
Janurary 2016
Mattie Miracle was invited to contribute a chapter to a leading psychosocial oncology textbook. The chapter is entitled, Parents' perspective on the role of psychosocial care: Conversations and approaches.
Abstract:
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the lives of an entire family are changed forever. In an instant, the vision of your perfectly healthy and happy family and the future you envisioned gets wiped away and is replaced with foreign medical jargon, treatment protocols, and great fear and anxiety about the survival of your child. Providing psychosocial care for the child and the family along the cancer continuum, from the time of diagnosis through survivorship or end-of-life care, is vital to achieving optimal health and wellness. This chapter highlights the importance of psychosocial care for childhood cancer families and the perspectives of two parents who have lived the cancer journey as they cared for their son Mattie, who courageously battled osteosarcoma. As a result of their experiences, they share their conversations and approaches with psychosocial providers and also discuss their vision that inspired the national project that is underway to develop standards of psychosocial care for childhood cancer.
Mattie Miracle Founders Featured in Washington Post Article Regarding Development of Standards
December 29, 2015
Washington Post Reporter Brady Dennis wrote a piece on the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation's Co-Founders and the work they have done to establish national psychosocial standards of care for children with cancer and their families, and all in memory of their son, Mattie.
Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families Is Published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer
December 29, 2015
The historic Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families was published in the Journal of Pediatric Blood & Cancer in a dedicated special supplement. The publication contains one overview article and 15 articles, one for each of the 15 Standards of care. Click below to view all the Standards.