When the happiest, sweetest and charismatic 15-year-old boy, my best friend’s little brother, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma the thought resurfaced, not only in my mind but throughout our small hometown community, on why this uniquely wonderful, loveable kid, had to face something so horrible and life-threatening. I remember seeing Mitchell wear the biggest smile throughout the halls of our school and hearing him excitedly ask his sister, Mal and I for advice about asking a girl to Homecoming. To him, cancer was no big deal, just another bump in the road that wasn’t more difficult to overcome than winning a final shot at a basketball game. Seeing my best friend wipe her tears to instead, joke with her brother when he was grimacing in pain, just to make him smile changed my perceptive from asking God “why?” this had to happen into seeing the situation under the same positive light – a blessing in disguise.
When I told Mal I wanted to write an article on Mitch’s story around the anniversary of his death I was so nervous and hesitant. I feel as though no words could be written, said or described to explain the story, beauty, and positivity behind Mitch’s smile. However, Mal said she would like nothing better to hear Mitchell’s story be told again. When he was first diagnosed with his illness, Mallory admitted, “It was never something I expected my family to go through". When he was a patient at St. Jude, he had a scan to determine whether or not his treatment was working. After leaving, my mom asked if he was nervous about the results. However, he replied, "not at all, it’s a win-win either way. If the treatment is working and I’m cured, I get to stay here and share my story. If not, I get to chill with God." When bad things happen to good people, we often question, "why them?"; however, if I was ever asked to describe Mitchell’s outlook on his cancer in a few short words, it would be a “win-win.” By Mitchell's example of strong faith, not only did it shape the whole community to follow his positive outlook, but to watch him prosper and shape our community in trusting God’s plan as well.
Upon reaching Mitch’s anniversary of his death, it is unfathomable to believe such a rare and beautiful person is gone from this Earth. The only answer I can think of is that his mark on the lives he touched is one that is never gone or transient. Mitchell brought strength to people to live through faith and grace to get through any battle of life. Mal described to me what she hopes Mitch’s story can bring to others, “When people hear Mitch’s story, it will give them faith and strength to fight. Life on Earth is short and Mitchell made the most out of every day and never took anything for granted. My life will never be the same after losing him. I miss his hugs, smiles, and contagious laugh. I learned although things are different now without him, he will always be in my heart and I will carry on his legacy with me forever." After describing Mitch as her “biggest hero,” it is impossible to think of Mitch’s story as anything other than a blessing, by his grace and “unstoppable” impact he marked on everyone’s lives he touched.
