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Those familiar with the life and death of internationally renowned poet and peace devotee Mattie Stepanek probably get a lump in their throat when thinking about him. A new book penned by his mother, Jeni Stepanek, about this miraculous boy is guaranteed to put several lumps in readers' throats — whether or not they have heard Mattie's name before.

With the help of author Larry Lindner, Stepanek has documented much of her son's life in the pages of "Messenger, The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs."

Mattie Stepanek lived a full and dynamic life despite having a rare form of muscular dystrophy called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. He wrote and published several collections of poetry that made the bestsellers list and campaigned tirelessly for peace.

Of his many accomplishments, perhaps the most impressive was Mattie's determination to live to the fullest, even in the face of tremendous challenges. His mother heartwarmingly illustrates with a photograph of Mattie being thrown high into the air and into a swimming pool, his oxygen tube trailing behind.

Mattie had several high-profile friendships with public figures including Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Carter and Maya Angelou, who wrote the forward for "Messenger." He died of the disease in 2004, shortly before his 14th birthday.

"This is not a story about a child who died," says Jeni Stepanek. "This is the story of his message, which is still alive and well in this world."

Before losing Mattie, Stepanek lost three other children to dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy; she has the adult-onset form of the disease.

Stepanek did not write the book immediately after her son's death.

"I wanted to make sure that my grief did not cloud this incredible story," she explains.

When a statue of Mattie was unveiled in Rockville about a year ago, Stepanek watched a 4-year-old boy stare at the statue with his arms crossed before declaring to his mother, "Mommy, that boy makes me feel happy inside." That boy's comment made her realize it was time to get to work on writing a book about Mattie's life.

"I just decided right then and there that I have to tell this story because when I'm gone, no one can tell his story," she says.

The book, explains Stepanek, is organized by themed chapters rather than according to a timeline. Selections of Mattie's poetry she felt were applicable to the theme at hand are interwoven in each chapter, as are photographs of Mattie at various ages. The book also contains two poems and private e-mails between Mattie and Oprah that have not appeared in print.

Stepanek drew from her journal entries and interviewed various people from Mattie's life.

"I have not put words into anybody's mouth," she asserts. Instead, "They have given me the words for this book."

Many of the stories of hope and survival are uplifting and profound. The extremely honest account of Mattie's last days, his death and his funeral "were particularly difficult to write," Stepanek says.

"I rolled up to his face and leaned in close," she writes. "‘Mattie, I need you to look at me,' I told him. ‘I need to tell you something, and I need to know that you are listening to me.' He opened his eyes and looked into mine.

"‘Mattie, I love you very much. I want you to know that you can rest now. I will be okay. I will choose to inhale. Do you understand what I am saying to you? I am saying that it is okay for you to rest now.'"

Stepanek has close friends who continue to provide support, and this, combined with the inspiration of her four late children, strengthens her.

"My philosophy is ‘choose to inhale, don't breathe just to exist,'" she says.

Good things are happening all the time and there are many good people in the world, she says, "I like to notice those."

Stepanek is determined to keep her son's message of peace alive. She hopes the book leads people to realize that peace is an option they can choose.

The book concludes on an uplifting note, resounding with memories of Mattie.

"Yes, his chromos – the dash that marks time from birth to death – was brief. But his kairos – the depth of the moments he lived, and what grows from them, even today – is full and rich. He embraced every opportunity to learn, to be inspired, and to share his message, his ‘Heartsong,' thereby touching the world with a gentle strength."

Stepanek felt it was important to end on a positive note so that readers don't have sorrow in their hearts when they finish it.

"Mattie was an ordinary child who made extraordinary choices," she observes.

Perhaps poet Maya Angelou says it best in the book's forward:

"Mattie Stepanek did not come from the ground like grass, he grew like a tree. He had roots."

"Messenger, The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs," by Jeni Stepanek with Larry Lindner, will be available for purchase at major bookstores and online booksellers on Nov. 3. Stepanek will sign books at a release party at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Borders in White Flint, 11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Call 301-816-1067.