He wanted to be remembered as a poet, a peacemaker and a philosopher who played.
Mattie Stepanek's Message Lives On
New Park Honors the Memory of Inspiring Young Poet and Peacemaker
Weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, with America still in the throes of loss and fear, "Good Morning America" discovered a huge gift of solace in a tiny, fragile package -- 11-year-old Mattie Stepanek.
"We all have life storms and when we get the rough times and we recover from them we should celebrate that we got through it," Mattie told "GMA" in 2001. "No matter how bad it may seem there's always something beautiful that you can find."
It was a message based on Mattie's struggles. He had a rare form of muscular dystrophy that tied him to machines and his wheelchair, but his spirit was indomitable as he insisted we learn to play after every storm. His words made him a best-selling poet and national spokesman for peace.
Mattie's hero was former President Carter. "He's a humble peacemaker," Mattie said. "He didn't do a peacekeeping mission and go brag about it."
Mattie's smile made him a bright spot in the "GMA" family. It was on "GMA" that he had his surprise meeting with Carter.
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Mattie died in June 2004 at the age of 13.
His muscular dystrophy was only identified when his mother, Jeni Stepanek, was diagnosed with the same disease, which she unknowingly passed on to Mattie and her three other children who also died.
Stepanek is now on a ventilator as her disease progresses, but she holds Mattie's spirit in her heart.
"My arms work less and less, but spiritually I'm doing great," she said. "My son's message is alive and well."
On Saturday, the mayor of Rockville, Md., dedicated the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park , where kids and adults can play and listen to tapes of Mattie's messages.
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who featured Mattie on her show, surprised Stepanek at the park dedication.
"You know what's so powerful about it, here was this little boy and he only lived 13 years and 'Good Morning America' is here, and I am here, and families who loved him and families who didn't even know him are here," Winfrey said.
And Mattie will be there, too, captured in bronze -- a reminder of the energy that boosted the spirits of so many.
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