Mattie's Friends Share
Their Thoughts

On the 2003 Telethon, Mattie spoke.

"ODE TO MATTIE"

Mattie is gone.
And so is my spirit
A piece of my heart feels gone as well.
How do we fill that void?
How do we tell our emotional
System it will recover.
Maybe it will, but it will never be the same.
How do we go on without Mattie's presence?
We have to.
And we'll probably be all right if we carry what Mattie was
And what he believed the world was all about,
If we follow his understanding about life and love
We can't go wrong.(And the child shall lead us)
Goodbye Mattie, my friend, and young champion.
I will miss you very much.
And this Labor Day will be your day, Mattie,
And I will keep you in the forefront of my mind to get
The money to help so many other kids just like you.
I love you my friend,
I'll be seeing you...

Share Thoughts send an e-mail to express your thoughts about Mattie. Make a Gift in Memory of Mattie

We Miss You Mattie. God Bless your wonderful Mom, Jeni. You have changed my heartstrings in a positive way. I will teach my children your messages and I pray they carry your wisdom and light on to their own children. My heartstrings are crying today. I know you are in Heaven with your brothers, sister and everything good. I am sure there are Rainbows & Sunsets everywhere. I pray that our leaders of today can learn from a child's wisdom, Mattie's wisdom, that peace can become a reality and that we have to have hope and the courage to make our universe and world a better place to be. I truly believe that there are angels here on earth and that Mattie was one of them. I wished I'd known him. His legacy and teachings will be in hearts forever; he will always be a thread in my heartstrings. We love you Mattie. God Bless Jerry Lewis. God Bless Jeni. God Bless Single Moms, God Bless Mattie, God Bless the MDA hospitals and medical professionals. God Bless America and our Planet Earth. We miss you Mattie, but your spirit will live on forever. I pray there is a cure for your disease and other diseases that plague us in this day. I will never forget you with your Mom and Micah.

With Love and Prayers,
Melinda, Tanner and Tillman

My dearest Jeni:

In this time of sorrow, please know that my heart is weeping with you. Your Mattie became the world's Mattie by touching us all so deeply with his courage, hope and compassion. He left such a remarkable legacy, he will forever be a part of the MDA community. I am also a single mother of a child with muscular dystrophy. My Wayne is 14 and has myotonic dystrophy. His level of affliction is mild and slow progressing. I know the struggles you have fought and can only imagine the difficulties you are now facing. Wayne felt an immediate bond to Mattie when we watched him on Oprah. He insisted we run out the same day and get "Heartsongs." He began reading Mattie's poems as soon as we left the bookstore and read them aloud to me on the way home.

Mattie will always be in our hearts. I know that he is in a place now where he was received with open arms. His physical burdens are lifted and his soul is soaring. Oh, what poetry he is writing now. You gave the world a precious gift. My prayers and thoughts are with you today, tomorrow and always.

Yours Most Sincerely,
Yvonne
Farmington, WV

Jerry Lewis, Mattie, and Larry King

I never met Mattie in person, only through his poetry, television appearances and in prayers that I said nonstop for his recovery. When I heard yesterday about his passing over, at first I started to cry, but then I remembered that Mattie had prepared all of us for this day several poems ago. Now he is in heaven, walking, running and spreading his "heartsong" with the angels and his siblings. I will keep his Mom lifted in prayer as she did such a wonderful job raising Mattie on her own. I am going to make a donation in Mattie's memory today.

Bev

I would like to extend my most heartfelt sympathies to Mattie's mom, Jeni. Mattie was such a courageous young man and will be missed by the entire MDA "family." He was so lively, energetic and positive about life.

My youngest son (8) has BMD, and I would show him Mattie on the various TV shows, and tell him that Mattie was very smart, happy and brave, even though he too had MD.

Of all the MD sufferers that have passed before, and will pass after, Mattie will always have a special place in the heart of thousands of people. I wish him love, peace and strong legs in "heaven."

Kind Regards,
Debbie, (mother of Jesse),
Bermuda

Indeed a sad day, but lets rejoice and celebrate Mattie. We will see him again soon with the other angels. He was indeed an inspiration to us all. I have been associated with MDA as a Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, and have also had a loved one who had MD; he's also gone to heaven. They both are rejoicing together. Running and playing together. I miss Jared and I will miss Mattie. Celebrate their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Love,
Debbie
Wilmington, N.C.

Thank you Dear and special, young and wise, Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek. God loves you and I love you. God bless your Dear Mother Jeni and all your family and friends at your passing. You have inspired me, Dear Mattie, and you are a blessing to me, and many others.Thank you. Peace and Love Child...Earth Angel.

Rebecca
Sacramento, Ca

As an assistant teacher in a classroom of emotionally disabled children, I would read poems from Mattie's books frequently. I never had to ask the kids to be quiet because they sat and listened to his words! We are all saddened by the death of a wonderful young peacemaker, but celebrate the fact that heaven has opened its arms to welcome him home. GOD bless his Mother, Jeni, and she is in our prayers.

Charlotte,
Winter Springs, Florida

I would just like to convey my condolences on this sad day. I knew Mattie and played in the Claxton Classic golf tournament that donated proceeds to MD. Mattie was always such a joy to see, especially when he was in a golf cart surrounded by the Hooter girls. These are times that I will not forget and cherish reading the autographed copies of his poetry that I was able to receive. My heart goes out to his mother and all the people that loved him. GOD SPEED MATTIE and GOD BLESS.

Steve

Listen closely to the tributes pouring in after Mattie's death and you'll hear what he wanted us all to hear all along...his heartsong blending gently into ours. God bless you, Mattie. And may He grant strength and peace to your Mom.

Scott

Hi, just wanted to share a quick remembrance of Mattie.

I started riding Harley-Davidsons in late 1997. My dealer asked me if I would be interested in an annual fund-raiser for Muscular Dystrophy. I had NO idea what MD was all about, but joined the effort. My first two years were marginal, at best, and my interest levels were not that high. Somewhere in the mix, I met Mattie and all of a sudden, it was like an awakening. This kid had such a positive outlook and was so energetic that I knew I had to get more involved. I've raised money for the past seven years, had the opportunity to join many, many kids over the years at the Ride for Life, participated in the Parade of Heroes at Harley's 100th, and more importantly, have had the opportunity to share many experiences with your kids as a result of volunteering as a counselor at MDA Summer Camp in Lansdale, Pa., for the past three years. It's amazing how my views and attitude toward these kids has changed. All as a result of meeting Mattie!

I will miss him even though I've not seen him for quite a while, but my memory of him will last forever!

Thanks,
Michael

Mattie's time here on earth can never be measured because of the impact he will have on generations to come.

I first saw Mattie on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The impact he made on me was profound and lasting. I am certain I share that sentiment with so many others who will celebrate with Heaven - yet mourn on Earth, of having Learned about one Mattie Stepanek. What a world this would be if there could be More like Mattie...

Thank you Mattie---for helping me to remember my Heartsongs and to always play after the storm.

Thank you Lord, for granting us the privilege of discovering Your love through Mattie's Heartsongs.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the Stepanek Family and all the lives touched by Mattie.

Respectfully,
Leslie
Chesapeake, Virginia

Mattie,

You probably don't remember me, but I remember you. Your mom and my mom used to work together at ACCH. I remember coming to your house and you showing me Karate and I remember you coming to my house and eating dinner with my family. I couldn't stop laughing when you said, "I've never met a Maya before..." You have made such a difference on this planet in such a short amount of time, more of a difference than most people make in a lifetime.

Your poems (which my family has all the books for and then some!), your spirit, your courage, and your never ending fight will be remembered for years to come. I only knew you for a short amount of time, but in that short amount of time you made a world of difference and I will never forget that.

While I am sad to see you go, I know it was time. Please take care of your brothers and sisters, and if you get a chance please check in on my cousin - he wasn't much older than you are. Don't forget to look in on your mom every oncein a while too. :) Rest in Peace.

Love always,
Maya

I'm a mom of four children, three of which have muscular dystrophy. I have always felt a special attachment to Mattie. He said what so many people feel, he reminded us what life is all about. At his young age he knew what life was about. Mattie knew how to live each day to his fullest. I believe he is bringing lots of love and joy to heaven right now. Mrs. Stepanek, your son touched so many. He is a peacemaker! God Bless.

Joy and family

As a 15-year veteran counselor at The MDA Summer Camp Program in Charlotte, North Carolina (Southern Piedmont District) I would like to express the deeply felt sorrow for the passing of our MDA Ambassador Mattie J.T. Stepanek. On behalf of the camp counselors and campers in The Southern Piedmont District I would like to let the family know our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to them. Mattie has been and will always be an inspiration to those who are diagnosed with a Neuromuscular Disease.

Sincerely,
Todd