HEARTSONGS

Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek, known to his friends as “Mattie,” began writing poetry and short stories at the age of three. Some of his works explore the uncensored reality of living with a rare form of Muscular dystrophy and with the grief associated with the loss of his three siblings to the same life-threatening condition. But most of his work proclaims the innocent hope, profound wisdom and delightful humor of childhood. Heartsongs is a collection of earlier poems and artwork of this gifted, courageous, award-winning poet.