We've lost a very special person today, mattie Stepanek.

[hellbound-liberal]

I don't know if any of you have had the pleasure of meeting or even just listening to this remarkable young man but we have lost a very special person. He was very mature for his age and despite all of the challenges he faced, he always had a kind word for others. I feel fortunate that I had a chance to meet him and his passing leaves me sad but hopeful that the vision that he shared of our own potential as a species will help us all live together in peace.

[latebloomer]

1. Who was he? n/t

[LittleApple81]

2. I think he was that really special and intelligent kid that had muscular

distrophy. I think Larry King was talking about him today. He was 13?

[JI7]

3. he would have been 14 next month

i have seen him on tv at times and he was such a good kid. so thankful for what he had and full of love. there was no anger or hatred in him.

[Robbien]

4. Aw, I just googled. What a loss

Stepanek began writing poetry at age 3 to cope with the death of a brother. In 2001, a small publisher issued a slim volume of his poems, called "Heartsongs." Within weeks, the book reached the top of the Times' best-seller list, the MDA said.

He wrote four other books: "Journey Through Heartsongs," "Hope Through Heartsongs," "Celebrate Through Heartsongs" and "Loving Through Heartsongs."

Despite his condition, Stepanek was upbeat, saying he didn't fear death. His work was full of life, a quest for peace, hope and the inner voice he called a "heartsong."

"It's our inner beauty, our message, the songs in our hearts," he said in an interview with The Associated Press in November 2001. "My life mission is to spread peace to the world."

[SW FL Dem]

5. Thanks! I just watched the tribute on Larry King

and was struggling to find the words to post a tribute. I have a 13 year old son so the loss was close to home. Mattie was very special and showed an extraordinary abilility to express his feelings of hope and optimism. He will be missed

[eaprez]

6. I am sorry to hear that...

...every time I saw him I was in awe of him - he always made me think that I hoped I could be a fraction of the person he was. So filled with love and hope that little guy was. He was wise beyond his years - and such an inspiration to me.

[newsguyatl]

7. he was a beautiful kid

i remember seeing him on oprah several times.

what a great loss.

[rumguy]

8. Here's a good poem of his

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.

[flamingyouth]

9. That is very sad news

He showed incredible courage and dignity in his short life. :(

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. I hope he's in a place where he can live his ideals.

As the song says, only the good die young. :-(

[KeepHopeAlive]

11. He will be missed

What a gift he had and was.

Another of his poems.

I am

I am black, I am white
I am all skins in between

I am young, I am old
I am each age that has been

I am scrawny I am well fed
I am starving for intention

I am famous I am cryptic
I am hardly worth the mention

I am short, I am height
I am any frame or stature

I am smart, I am challenged
I am striving for a future

I am able, I am weak
I am some strength, I am none

I am being, I am thought
I am all things said and done

I am born, I am died
I am dust of humble roots

I am grace, I am pain
I am labor of willed fruits

I am slave, I am free
I am bonded to my life

I am rich, I am poor
I am wealth amidst strife

I am shallow, I am glory
I am hiding from my shame

I am hero, I am loser
I am yearning for a name

I am empty, I am proud
I am seeking my tommorrow

I am growing, I am fading
I am hope amid the sorrow

I am certain, I am doubtful
I am desperate for solutions

I am leader, I am student
I am fate and evolutions

I am spirit, I am voice
I am memory, not recalled

I am chance, I am cause
I am effort, blocked and walled

I am hymm, I am heard
I am reasoned without rhymes

I am past, I am nearing
I am present at all times

I am many, I am no one
I am seasoned by each being

I am me, I am you
I am all-souls now decreeing

Mattie Stepanek

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

12. I am amazed at how talented that young man was. May he rest in peace.

[TeeYiYi]

13. When I Die (Part II)

When I Die (Part II)

From the book Journey Through Heartsongs, by Mattie J.T. Stepanek

When I die, I want to be
A child in Heaven.
I want to be
A ten-year-old cherub.
I want to be
A hero in Heaven,
And a peacemaker,
Just like my goal on Earth.
I will ask God if I can
Help the people in Purgatory.
I will help them think,
About their life,
And their spirits,
About their future.
I will help them
Hear their Heartsongs again,
So they can finally
See the face of God,
So soon.
When I die,
I want to be,
Just like I want to be
Here in Earth.

November 1999
© Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

You can hear Mattie read his poem at http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20011019_i.jhtml

TYY:cry:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. "The fire that burns twice as bright burns half as long"

And his fire burned so very, very brightly.

[Pachamama]

15. He was a Peacemaker....a truly sweet soul...

....if only sweet Mattie could have been with us just a bit longer...he is so needed here on Planet Earth....However he did more in his 13 years here than most people could in 13 lifetimes....

I remember last year seeing him interviewed on Larry King and being blown away....he had wisdom and an inner peace in his eyes that I have only seen in a few people in my life including some Shaman's I met in the Amazon and the Dalai Lama....Gandhi had the same look in his eyes.... O8)

May sweet Mattie be able to continue his work on the other side....He touched a lot of souls....If any DUer reading this thread isn't familiar with him take the time to read his poetry or see him sometime in one of his many interviews...wonderful and touching...

His mother Jenny also has Muscular Distrophy and he lost two siblings to it...

:cry:

[OneBlueSky]

16. oh, damn . . . that is so sad . . .

what a remarkable and beautiful young man he was . . . he fought long and hard against his illness, but I guess it was ultimately too much for him to endure any longer . . . I believe that Billy Gilman, the young country singer, recorded some songs based on Mattie's poetry . . . this is really heartbreaking to hear . . . my prayers will go out to Mattie and his family . . .