“When Shelly brought the tapes to Chicago, she managed to convince the Oprah Winfrey Show staff that Mattie's segment needed to be more than how his disability felt. She told them she had been struck by how an eleven-year-old placed a higher priority on being a father someday and on relationships than on guns, cars, or the typical fantasies of a young boy. She that she went to our apartment to get "What is it like to suffer, to have your dying wishes granted?" and came back with "What is it like to be a peacemaker?” PeaceWishesCarsBoy Book:Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs Source: Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs