This book is innocent and filled with wisdom beyond his years. Because of this disease he had to use a wheelchair and respirator. In 2001 he released his first volume of poetry, heartsongs. But the most extraordinary person i have ever known in my life was mattie stepanek. Jun 22, 2014 the book made the new york times bestseller list and turned mattie stepanek into a star. Fighting that same illnessand now, a constellation of other afflictionsthe rockville resident looks back on what a brief but wondrous thing it was to be mattie stepaneks mom. He became a peace advocate and motivational speaker, and lobbied on capitol hill on behalf of peace, people with disabilities, and children with lifethreatening conditions. Mattie s foundation at work in americussumter county, ga.
Jun 22, 2019 mattie accomplished a great deal in his years, according to kathy dempsey, director for the mattie j. Students will be able to draw conclusions about mattie stepaneks life by reading his poetry. For our world, a poem written on 911 by mattie stepanek. From heartsongs, to vietnam war memorial, to prayer for a journey, mattie has written movingly and courageously about life and death, love and loss, faith and hope, innocence and joy. He wrote poetry and short stories since the age of three, and his first book of poetry entitled heartsongs is a collection of his earliest works. Mattie stepanek accrued some mighty endorsements in his short life.
All seven of matties books became new york times bestsellers and touched millions of lives around the world. Fifteen years after her son died, jeni stepanek focuses on. In spite of his physical handicap mattie tirelessly worked towards making the world a better place for all using his inborn talent of writing powerful poems. He published a series of heartwarming books, heartsongs of mattie stepanek that promptly hit the new york times best sellers list. Last week, his mother, jeni stepanek, left the rockville, md. The boy was mattie stepanek, a young poet with a rare form. The 11yearold, who was wise beyond his years, became one of oprahs favorite guests. Mattie stepanek passed away on this day in 2004 at the age of thirteen having suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
Mattie stepanek, was an american poet, who had six books of poetry and one book of essays all reach the new york times bestsellers list. For our world, by mattie stepanek, mattie s books, s. Jeni stepaneks last heartsong her son was a celebrity, the little boy poet with the devastating rare disease who earned a following around the world. As mattie deals with the reality that he is dying, his poetry explore living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. In 2002, mattie was awarded the childrens hope medal of honor, the verizon courage award, and the humanitarian award from the pediatric nursing society of america. The book, written about mattie by his mother, jeni, has a foreword by maya angelou. His five volumes of poetry sold more than a million copies. When oprah decided to end the oprah winfrey show after 20 years, she received a letter from a 12yearold boy urging her to reconsider.
Mattie stepanek read from his new book hope through heartsongs, published by hyperion. In heartsongs, mattie explores the uncensored reality of living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and with the grief associated with the loss of his three siblings to the same lifethreatening condition. He was a motivational speaker and the national goodwill ambassador for the muscular dystrophy association for three years. He became a peace advocate and motivational speaker, and lobbied on capitol hill on behalf of peace, people with disabilities, and children with lifethreatening. Mattie, was born with dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a disease which led to his death in june of 2004. This book deserves a close and relaxed reading due to its healing message and matties incredible insights.
Matthew joseph thaddeus stepanek, known as mattie stepanek, was an american poet, who had six books of poetry and one book of essays all reach the new york times bestsellers list. Mattie is a frequent public speaker who has appeared on oprah, good morning america, and larry king and has had his poetry published in newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jun 22, 2014 when oprah decided to end the oprah winfrey show after 20 years, she received a letter from a 12yearold boy urging her to reconsider. His three older siblings died from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, too. These poems share the rare wisdom that mattie has acquired through his struggle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and the death of his three siblings from the same disease.
His struggle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy has given him wisdom and insight. Though two more books would be published posthumously, this book was the last in matties heartsong series that combined his poetry and finger paintings. At find thousands of poems categorized into thousands of categories. Mattie stepanek, poet and inspiration the new york times. You can learn more about his brief, amazing, inspiring life at his website. Mattie was a frequent public speaker who has appeared on oprah, good morning america, and larry king and has had his poetry published in newspapers and magazines nationwide. Stepanek poetry contest learn more about the mattie j. His first five books of poetry are titled heartsongs, journey through heartsongs, hope through heartsongs, celebrate through heartsongs and loving through heartsongs.
He appeared on larry king live, the today show and the oprah winfrey show, which resulted in a lasting. Stepanek takes us on a journey through heartsongs with more of his moving poems. He had three to publish his book of poetry, to appear on oprah winfreys television show as a spokesman for peace and to meet his hero. Students will be able to write their own poem, talking about their own life, experiences, and feelings like in the heartsongs book of poetry. The book made the new york times bestseller list and turned mattie stepanek into a star. Matties poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives. Mattie got his first wish when two books of his poetry, heartsongs and journey through heartsongs, where published earlier this year. Through matties innocent and uncensored expressions about life as he sees it, and feels it, and thinks about it, i have been inspired to think more deeply about my own life. Mattie stepanek obituary washington, dc the washington post. Stepanek, best known as mattie, has been writing poetry and short stories since age three. His first three books of poetry are titled heartsongs, journey through. Mattie, was born with dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a disease which. Almost 14 on tuesday, june 22, 2004 of rockville, md. The poetry in this book was written when mattie was ages 312 years, and the book offers a foreword by dr.
Since 2001, children in carlstadt have begun studying matties poetry and writings in sixth grade. Mattie stepanek was born with a rare and fatal form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. Stepanek was a poet and speaker, penning six volumes of bestselling heartsongs poetry books, and a collection of peace essays that also became. This book is the final published book of poems by year old mattie stepanek, who died on 22 june 2004 from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. This causes muscle weakness and interrupted autonomic processes in his body, like breathing, digestion, and blood pressure. Jun 22, 2015 by mattie stepanek if they would find a cure when im a kid i could ride a bike and sail on rollerblades, and i could go on really long nature hikes you can read the complete poem here. Mattie stepanek was 11 years old when he wrote this poem on the day of 911.
Mattie was a frequent public speaker who appeared on oprah, the today show. In 2001, a small virginia publisher issued a slim volume of his poems, called. Matthew joseph thaddeus stepanek july 17, 1990 june 22, 2004, known as mattie j. Mattie stepanek was known as a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played. Mattie battled a rare form of muscular dystrophy and sadly passed away on june 22, 2004. Heartsong of mattie stepanek poem by tushar ray poetry. Stepanek, best known as mattie, wrote poetry and short stories since the age of three. Sadly he passed away in 2004 after a long battle with dysautonamic mitochondrial myopathy. Matties foundation at work in americussumter county, ga. Stepanek, best known as mattie, was raised by his mother, jeni, in upper marlboro, md. Mattie stepaneks poems of peace and hope touched many people.
Back in 2001, oprah introduced the world to an extraordinary little boy. In 2001, a small publisher issued a slim volume of his poems, called heartsongs. Jan 14, 2002 i recently completed my new copy of journey through heartsongs, by mattie stepanek. Mattie stepaneks mom has book signing of his last book. His mother was only diagnosed with mitochondrial disease after. Mattie began writing poetry at age 3 to cope with the death of a brother. Poet mattie stepanek inspired others baltimore sun. She is also the author of the ny times bestselling book, messenger. Matties final book is a collection of peace essays and poetry, letters and.
Mattie accomplished a great deal in his years, according to kathy dempsey, director for the mattie j. Stepanek poetry contest, students of all ages are invited to submit deadline is may 1, 2020. Aug 27, 20 explore grandmadonnas01s board mattie j. Stepanek, who published five volumes of poetry and became an advocate for people with muscular dystrophy, died yesterday in washington. One, to have my book published so i can spread my message of peace through the world. The awardwinning bestselling poetry of 11yearold mattie stepanek has touched the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. T stepanek is a wonderful book written by an 11 year old who sadly passed away in 2004.
His mother jeni talks you about her son, whose life was cut short by a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Mattie stepanek was a sufferer of mda who died at just thirteen years of age. Mattie was only 11 years old when his book of poetry was published. See more ideas about peace essay, writing poetry and muscular dystrophies. What a beautiful book of poems by such a young soul, 11 yr mattie j. Mattie is a frequent public speaker who has appeared on oprah, good morning america, and larry king and has had his poetry published in newspapers and magazines. He was a genius by intellect, but as sweet as a boy could have been. I recently completed my new copy of journey through heartsongs, by mattie stepanek. Stepanek was a poet, a peace activist, and the bestselling author of the heartsongs poetry series. Mattie stepanek, the yearold maryland boy whose poetry and message of peace captured the hearts of millions, died yesterday at a washington hospital from complications due to a rare form of. Students will be able to describe the themes in mattie stepaneks poetry. L k curriemcghee this book discusses the life of mattie stepanek, who suffered a form of neuromuscular disease and who published six books of poetry and collaborated with jimmy carter to publish a book of essays. Mattie was a frequent public speaker who has appeared on oprah, good morning america, and larry king and has had his poetry.
He wrote six books of poetry and one book on peacemaking. Stepanek, who suffered from a rare form of muscular dystrophy and unfortunately lost his. Stepanek, was an american poet or, as he wanted to be remembered, a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played who published seven bestselling books of poetry and peace essays. A message of hope was the essay book of stepanek, which became the inspiration for the. It was opened on 21 october 2008 where a number of famous people like billy gilman, nile rodgers and oprah winfrey came to the event. His first three books of poetry are titled heartsongs, journey through heartsongs, and hope through heartsongs. Mattie became a bestselling author when his book of poetry journey through heartsongs, topped the new york times bestseller list.
Mattie was a frequent public speaker who appeared on oprah, the today show, and good morning america and had his poetry published in. Within weeks, the book reached the top of the times bestseller list, the mda said. Two, to talk peace with my hero, jimmy carter, mattie says. Through mattie s innocent and uncensored expressions about life as he sees it, and feels it, and thinks about it, i have been inspired to think more deeply about my own life. Stepanek began writing poetry at age 3 to cope with the death of a brother. Mattie ultimately published six collections of heartsongs poetry books, and one collection of just peace essays and email correspondence with former president jimmy carter.