Jeni stepanek childrens books

My son, Mattie, was born with a rare neuromuscular disease. As a result of this condition, he often spent many months at a time in the hospital. This is not a typical (or ideal) setting for any individ – especially children and young adults who are learning about life and the world, and who are in need of peers and community. Mattie was lucky though. In addition to having his mom bygd his side much of the time, he was blessed with the truth of community that grew from the support and care and love and connections that he had with his healthcare providers, and with other children and families he met across the years.

One of the most remarkable and memorable friendships Mattie made with another patient and family began during the spring of 2001, on the day that “Little Nickle Pickle” became a patient in the ICU bed right next to Mattie’s space. It didn’t take long for 10-year-old Mattie J.T. Stepanek and 2-year-old Nicolas Copeland to develop a special bond, and for

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Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs

January 20, 2011

Mattie is so inspirational. The doctors predicted his death right after he was born, but he lived. They said that he would never learn like a normal child. They were right. Mattie started homeschooling when he was 10 at the learning level of a 9th grader. He died for five and a half minutes once. He's a miracle child, born July 17, on the 17th minute of the 17th hour (5:17 P.M.), measuring 17 inches and weighing 2,017 grams. His shyness eroded at age 6, and he began writing poetry he called his Heartsongs. He was touched by God, and even became known a messenger because of his revels he had with Him. Early in the year he predicted the dark day on March 30th, and on that day he woke up in the hospital, stricken with temporary blindness, then fell into a weeks-long coma. He awoke again, alert and himself. Some time later, a piece of skin caught and clogged his airway in his trachea, and he passed out. When t

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A New Hope for Peace: It’s Not a Fairytale - Jeni Stepanek

"A New Hope for Peace: It's Not a Fairytale" Jeni Stepanek, an award winning writer, is a noted advocate for childrens, patients and families need and rights in health and education, and author of the new book Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs.

Jeni Stepanek

Jeni is a noted advocate for children's, patients', and families' needs and rights in health and education, and author of the new book "Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs." She earned her Ph.D. and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Maryland, specializing in family support and bereavement experiences. Her B.A. is in Psychology and Journalism. Jeni has spoken on television, radio and in print about disability, hospice, family support, parenting, writing, motivation, spirituality and many other topics, all while battling a rare neuromuscular disease. Her therapeutic approache