Oprah Winfrey has called him "an inspiration"; Maya Angelou saw him as a kindred spirit and fellow poet; and Jimmy Carter described Mattie Stepanek as "the most remarkable person I have ever known." MDA chose him to serve an unprecedented three terms as National Goodwill Ambassador. Now the world will get to know the full story behind the poet, peacemaker, and philosopher.
In Messenger, Jeni Stepanek shares the inspiring and intimate details of her son's life. When Mattie was born with a rare disorder called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, Jeni was advised to put her son in an institution and "let nature take its course." Instead, she nurtured a child who transformed his hardships into a worldwide message of peace and hope. Though Mattie had to cope with his disease, his mother's disability, and the loss of his three older siblings, he never abandoned his positive spirit. His Heartsong - the word he used to describe a person's inner self - spread a philosophy that peace begins with an attitude. Jeni and Mattie believed that peace can become a habit that is cultivated among people, not a concept one tries to force on people through invasions and wars, and that what one wants most can be attained only by first giving it to others.