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How Mattie Stepanek Helped Change the Course of Oprah Show History

Aired on 05/20/2011 | CC
When Oprah decided to end The Oprah Winfrey Show after 20 years, she received a letter from a 12-year-old boy urging her to reconsider. The boy was Mattie Stepanek, a young poet with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. While countless people tried to get the daytime talk show legend to keep her show on the air, it was Oprah's good friend Mattie who finally helped persuade her to do so. Watch as Mattie's mom, Jeni, explains why Mattie and Oprah had a deep connection even before they met.

Original airdate: May 20, 2011