Mattie Stepanek

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (July 17, 1990 – June 22, 2004), known as Mattie J.T. Stepanek, was an American poet (or as he wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played") who published seven best-selling books of poetry. Before his death (at the age of 13) he had become known as a peace advocate and motivational speaker. 2Life and career Matthew Stepanek was born on July 17, 1990. Stepanek's parents divorced when he was a child. He was raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and later lived in Rockville, Maryland. His hero was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who described Stepanek as "the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known". Stepanek suffered from a rare disorder, dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. His three older siblings died from dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, too. The condition was unknown until his mother was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease in 1992, after all four of the children had been born. Stepanek was a poet and speaker, penning six volumes of bestselling Heartsongs poetry books, and a collection of peace essays that also became a best selle