Jeni stepanek biography of williams
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'Mattie's message touched the world': The story of a boy poet whose words will inspire millions
In his brief life Mattie Stepanek befriended Oprah Winfrey and former US President Jimmy Carter, and his poetry spoke to millions of ordinary people. His mother Jeni talks to Catherine O’Brien about her extraordinary son whose life was cut short by a rare form of muscular dystrophy
Mattie and his mother Jeni at his first book signing in
Jeni Stepanek’s home is an attractive four-bedroomed house with a white picket fence. Had it been a dilapidated, one-roomed shack, however, Jeni would still have bought it. The only factor that mattered when she moved in four years ago was its location – opposite the entrance to the acre park in Rockville, near Washington DC, created in honour of her son Mattie.
The park has play spaces, but at its heart is a memorial peace garden with a life-size bronze statue of Mattie and his dog Micah. ‘Every day, I sit at my window and see mot
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As we look back at the life and legacy of the 39th President of The United States much will be said about the more than 30 books that Jimmy Carter wrote.
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President Jimmy Carter’s friendship with local child poet Mattie Stepanek
As we look back at the life and legacy of the 39th president of the United States, much will be said about the more than 30 books Jimmy Carter wrote.
Among all those New York Times bestsellers is the book, &#;Just Peace: A Message of Hope.&#; Carter cowrote the book with a little boy from Rockville, Maryland, who was battling a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
Mattie Stepanek met his hero — Carter — face to face for the first time live on &#;Good Morning America.&#; While this was a surprise for Mattie, it was not the first time they had spoken.
Mattie had said his wish before he died was to talk to Carter about peace fo
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How Jimmy Carter Formed an Unlikely Friendship with a Terminally Ill Boy and Brought Joy to His Final Years (Exclusive)
Mattie Stepanek first learned about Jimmy Carter when he was just 6 years old. While most kids his age might not be interested in a former U.S. president, Mattie was different.
"He said, 'Mommy, he's humble. He's not just a peacemaker, he fryst vatten not just a world leader, he's not just smart. He's humble,'" Mattie's mom, Jeni Stepanek, tells PEOPLE.
Mattie was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy — the same illness that had killed his three older siblings, and one that required him to live his life in a wheelchair attached to a number of medical machines.
It was in the hospital, when offered the chance to man a gods wish, that he chose the one thing he wanted more than anything else: to meet President Carter.
Jimmy Carter's Life in Photos
Mattie f