rare disease

"Peace Is Possible" — Mattie Stepanek, the Boy Poet Who Touched Millions in Just 13 Years

Born with a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease, Mattie Stepanek began writing poetry at age three and became a New York Times bestselling author by eleven. In his brief 13 years, he inspired millions, befriended a former president, and left behind a legacy of hope and peace that endures to this day.