Penned by Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, and with a Foreword by Dr. Maya Angelou, “MESSENGER” offers readers details about Mattie’s earliest years through his last days of life.

From the cover flap –

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

The job of the poet
Is to leave stains of the storms
Yet echo laughter of the light
That is seen from the soul. . . .
The job of the poet
Is to . . . capture
And to spirit and to script
The pulse of life.¹

When her son, Mattie, was born with a rare disorder now known as Dysautonomic Mitcochondrial Myopathy, Jeni Stepanek was advised to put her child in an institution and “let nature take its course.”  Instead, she nurtured a boy who grew to become a young man who transformed his hardships into a message of hope and peace that touched millions.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a bestselling author, publishing six collections of his Heartsong poetry and one collection of peace essays that all became New York Times bestsellers and eventually sold more than 2 million copies; he gave inspirational talks to thousands; he became the National Goodwill Ambassador for Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy Association; and he knew his heroes—Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Carter and Maya Angelou—personally. But his legacy lives strongest in his choice—his decision to celebrate life and perceive it as a blessing even during the most painful moments.  It is that legacy that Jeni Stepanek celebrates with Messenger.

Telling the story of Mattie as only his mother could, in Messenger Jeni Stepanek recounts the intimate moments of this little boy’s life, a life that became larger than life as his message spread across the world. In describing her son’s trips to the beach, his love of reading, his obsession with Legos, his planning of a surprise birthday party for his mom—we see an ordinary child who just so happened to be facing a life-threatening health situation. In recounting Mattie’s sadness at losing all of his siblings to the same disease, his astonishing intellect, his belief that he was channeling God’s message into his poetry, and his dedication to spreading the message of peace he so believed in, we see the extraordinary boy who lived every day given to him to the fullest.

Messenger is the full story of Mattie “the poet, the peacemaker, and the philosopher who played.”  Featuring numerous never before published poems by Mattie, journal entries, essays, and e-mail exchanges with many of his famous friends, Jeni shares Mattie’s passion for living, his never ending hope for peace, and his spirit that spread joy in a life that medicine swore held no promise of hope. 

Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D., is the mother of Mattie Stepanek, the New York Times bestselling author and humanitarian, who passed away in 2004 to Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy. Jeni lost three other children to this same neuromus­cular disease and has the adult-onset form herself. She holds a doctorate in early childhood special education and is an award-winning speaker, writer, and advocate. She lives in Rockville, Maryland.

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Join "Mattie's Peace Network" - We are creating a network of teachers, students, parents, community leaders, and more... In the coming months, we will be able to send you information about what Mattie's Foundation is doing to spread a message of hope and peace, and also information about what other people are doing in their communities. This network will strengthen and publicize all the good work we are doing as individuals and smaller groups. More information coming soon!!! You can sign up online, or, if you prefer, click here to download the sign up flyer, then email your interest and information to us. Thank you!

If you are interested in sponsoring a brick in Mattie's Peace Garden, or other sponsorship opportunities, please visit the sponsorship page.

Thank you to all the people who continue to visit Mattie's Website, and to all who keep his message of hope and peace alive in the world for him. Mattie died on June 22, 2004, just three weeks before his fourteenth birthday. But he left us the gift of his Heartsongs, which are his legacy, and our comfort and inspiration.

Thousands of people have sent emails and letters since Mattie's death, filled with prayers and support, and stories of how Mattie touched the lives of people around the world. Mattie's message reached individuals of all ages, races, nationalities, faiths, abilities, and aspirations.

Mattie truly was the ambassador of humanity he tried to be during his lifetime. In Mattie's honor and memory, his mom will be updating this website every month or so, to keep people informed of events and news items related to Mattie, his message, and his mission.