Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Mattie Stepanek

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 7 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #3063 in People, #46162 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

A Poet, Peacemaker & Philosopher who Played & Dreamt Big Dreams

 

Mattie Stepanek wanted to be known as a poet, peacemaker and philosopher who played. Even though he had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, Mattie was able to accomplish a lot in his short life. He was not limited by the disease. For this reason I consider he is Superhero.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association National Goodwill Ambassador, wrote six best-selling books. 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.

He died in June 2004 just shy of his 14th birthday.

Images of Mattie from the Muscular Dystrophy Website.

Three Reasons to Admire Mattie Stepanek 

  1. His gift of his HeartSong
  2. Sharing his spirit and his light
  3. His ability to keep dreaming until his dreams happened.

Mattie Stepanek at a Glance 

Matthew "Mattie" Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (July 17, 1990 ? June 22, 2004) was an American poet and advocate. At the age of 3, Stepanek started to write poetry to cope with the death of his older brother. His first five books are: Heartsongs, Journey Through Heartsongs, Hope Through Heartsongs, Celebrate Through Heartsongs and Loving Through Heartsongs. All five works made the New York Times' Best Seller list. He wrote that a "'Heartsong' is a person's special gift to be shared with others... or a person's 'reason for being.'"

Stepanek had a rare form of muscular dystrophy, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. His sister and two brothers died from the disease, and his mother has the adult form, diagnosed only after her children...

Mattie Stepanek and Jimmy Carter

Just Peace in the Amazon Spotlight 

Just Peace: A Message of Hope

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/11/2008)

Mattie was working on this manuscript with Jimmy Carter when he died in June 2004. His mother, Jeni, who edited the material and wrote a preface for the book is publishing it at her son's request.

Just Peace is an intimate portrait of a president, a young man of hope, and peace itself.

Mattie Stepanek on NBC  

Mattie Stepanek

All bout mattie and his poems talkin bout all that with Billy Gilman

Runtime: 4:21
6116 views
10 Comments:

powered by YouTube

I want to be remembered as a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played.

Mattie Stepanek

Mattie on Larry King on YouTube  

Mattie on Larry King

mattie appared on larry king for an interview

Runtime: 1:31
9682 views
10 Comments:

powered by YouTube

Your Thoughts on Mattie Stepanek 

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Mattie Stepanek and Jerry Lewis

Muscular Dystrophy Association  

Mattie Stepanek was the Muscular Dystrophy Association National Goodwill Ambassador.
Welcome to MDA, Helping Jerry's Kids
Main Website for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Remembering Mattie Stepanek
Remembering Mattie Stepanek on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's website.
Mattie Stepanek - Poems
Selected Poems by Mattie Stepanek on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Remembering Mattie website.

A Squidoo Featured Lens on MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis 

Poet, Peacemaker & Philosopher

What is a Heart Song? 

A heartsong is something deep inside each of us. It's our sense of why we are here and how we can keep going. It's like a purpose.

It may be to live as a mommy or a daddy, or a firefighter or a delivery person, or a child with a disability who teaches others about patience and love and acceptance.

Journey Through HeartSongs - 2001 

Journey Through Heartsongs

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 10/11/2008)

Mattie J.T. Stepanek takes us on a Journey Through Heartsongs with his moving poems. 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 life view is one of love and generosity and as a poet and a peacemaker, his desire is to bring his message of peace to as many people as possible.

Hope Through HeartSongs - 2002 

Hope Through Heartsongs

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 10/11/2008)

More of Mattie J.T. Stepanek's internationally inspiring poetry collected and published as Hope Through Heartsongs.

Former President Jimmy Carter wrote that "Mattie will inspire readers of all ages with thoughts and images that bring both tears and expanded hearts."

Remember to play
after every storm!

Celebrate Through HeartSongs - 2002 

Celebrate Through Heartsongs

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 10/11/2008)

Celebrate Through Heartsongs, his fourth inspiring collection of poetry, features works written between the ages of three and eleven, and continues to spread Mattie's message of universal hope, peace, courage, and love.

Fully illustrated by the poet, the collection will appeal to people of all ages, religions, and beliefs.

Loving Through HeartSongs - 2003 

Loving Through Heartsongs

Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 10/11/2008)

Loving Through Heartsongs, a beautiful collection of poems written about innocence and trusting love from a child's perspective.

Mattie's struggle with muscular dystrophy has never kept him from feeling deep love for his family, friends, country, and faith-heartfelt emotions that are reflected throughout these pages.

Think Gently, Speak Gently,
Live Gently

Reflections of a Peacemaker - 2005 

Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/11/2008)

Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs is the final collection of Heartsongs that Mattie was working on when he died.

Culled from the thousands of poems, essays, and journal entries Mattie left behind by his mother, the entries in Reflections of a Peacemaker create a portrait of Mattie in his own words.

Just Peace: A Message of Hope - 2006 

Just Peace: A Message of Hope

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/11/2008)

Mattie was working on this manuscript with Jimmy Carter when he died in June 2004. His mother, Jeni, who edited the material and wrote a preface for the book is publishing it at her son's request.

Just Peace is an intimate portrait of a president, a young man of hope, and peace itself.

I have big dreams and I don't stop dreaming them until they happen.

A Video Tribute to "I Am" on YouTube  

I Am

Music video and remix by Nicholas Kritter. Mattie Stepanek recites his poem I Am accompanied to imagery and music.

Runtime: 4:47
6391 views
10 Comments:

powered by YouTube

We have known kings and queens, and we've known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek.

Former President Jimmy Carter
Mattie Stepanek's Eulogy

Eulogies and Tributes for Mattie Stepanek 

Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek
Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek by Jimmy Carter from the Carter Center.
Jimmy Carter Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek
Jimmy Carter's Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek from the MDA website.
Oprah Winfrey Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek
Oprah Winfrey's Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek from the MDA website.
Child poet Mattie Stepanek dies at 13 - U.S. news - MSNBC.com
Child poet Mattie Stepanek, whose inspirational verse made him a best-selling writer and a prominent voice for muscular dystrophy sufferers, died Tuesday of a rare form of the disease at age 13.
Jann Carl Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek
Jann Carl's Eulogy for Mattie Stepanek from the MDA website.
Remembering Mattie Stepanek
Remembering Mattie Stepanek on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's website.
Oprah's Tribute to Mattie Stepanek
A tribute to Mattie Stepanek on Oprah.
Heartsongs from Mattie Stepanek
Poetry from Mattie Stepanek documenting his message of peace for the world.

With Mattie, the light of his life shined so brightly that every one of us who knew him, who were honored and had the grace to meet him, will feel the glow for the rest of our lives.

I know that his Heartsong has left a heart print in my life. A heart print that abides with me even now.

Oprah Winfrey

A Featured Lens on Oprah 

The Latest Posts in the Blogosphere about Mattie Stepanek 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

The Latest News about Mattie Stepanek 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

A Featured SuperHero Lens 

Anything more to add?  

Your place for comments, feedback, thoughts and suggestions

If you have any more good articles, photos, videos, blog posts, etc about Mattie Stepanek, be sure to leave a message.

Anonymous

Mattie Stepanek is such a wonderful child.

Posted September 13, 2008

P.S. I made this lens for the Squidoo Superheroes Project 

I was invited to participate in the Squidoo Superhero Project, making 5 lenses in 2 weeks about the people who have inspired me, mentored me or changed the way I look at the world.

If you buy anything from this page, you'll automatically be sending a royalty straight to the Squidoo Charity Fund, which pays out to a variety of nonprofits every month.

Be Sure to Visit My Other Superhero Lenses  

A Collection of Superhero Lenses for others who have faced incredible life challenges.
X
Comfortdoc

About Comfortdoc

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor, lecturer and author.

Dr. Dyer is the Domain Designer for the Journey of Hearts website, created in 1997 as the first and only physician based website devoted to educating people about the normal grief response.

Dr. Dyer is also a former NICU Parent. Based on her experiences with her youngest daughter, founded the NICU Parent Support Site.

Depending on the situation, Dr. Dyer wears a variety of hats, and uses different aliases...Comfortdoc, Griefdoc, Momdoc, Professordoc and now since becoming part of the Squidoo Community, Lensdoc or Lensdoctor.

In September 2008, Dr. Dyer became one of the original group of Giant Squids. She prefers to think of the Giant Squids as Squid Gigantea or Squids of Unusual Size (SUS's).

In July 2008 Dr. Dyer achieved the coveted Giant Squids 100 (or Giant 100 Club) status on Squidoo, joining the elite squad of the best and most prolific lensmasters on Squidoo who have made more than 100 lenses.

Also in July Dr. Dyer became one of the new Squidoo Activists the new group on Squidoo, the Champions for Charity dedicated to doing even more for charities and NonProfits using Squidoo.

In October 2008 she received one of the special recognition Giant Squid Awards, being chosen as the Generous Giant an honor she is very thrilled to have received.

For even more information see her Lensography, a listing of her Squidoo lenses or her Professional Bio to discover her many areas of interests.

Dr. Dyer currently has

Comfortdoc's Pages

See all of Comfortdoc's pages

X

Gold Star

This is a certified gold star lens, which means it's the best of its kind on Squidoo (or shows some serious potential for getting there!)

Read more about gold stars »

X

Comfortdoc is a Giant Squid!

Giants are distinguished by their exceptional skill for making top-notch lenses, and lots of them. Whenever you land on a Giant Squid's lens, you know the person behind it is passionate about the topic and is hard at work making the lens worthy of your time and attention.

Learn more about what it takes to be a Giant »