01/23/2026
This is my story of the day my world changed. I’m Debi Mitchell, Co-Founder and President of this amazing organization. An organization I never thought in a million years I would create because I never would have imagined I would hear the words, “your son has cancer!”
But 5 years ago, Jan 22, 2021 our son Austin Mitchell was diagnosed with Stage 3 Acute T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma at 12 years old. This was the day our world turned upside down. Austin’s 2 ½ year cancer treatment journey was filled with the unknown, anxiety, pain, blood and platelet transfusions, hardships, struggles, multiple different types of chemo, spinal taps infusing chemo in his spine, bacterial infections, mucositis, hives, horrible side effects, loss of school, severe constipation, long inpatient hospital stays, fevers, and everything else you cannot put into words about the fear you have when you have no control over cancer and what the outcome is going to be.
This journey taught me how to ask for help, how you can’t control everything, it brought me back to my faith in God and the power of prayer. You learn to be thankful for the small things in life, even when that is instead of taking 2 hours it only took you 1 hour to convince your son to take a handful of chemo and steroid pills when he doesnt want to take them because he knows they will make him sick and his body will be in pain. You also look forward to seeing your favorite oncology nurse because you know they can access your child’s port on the first try. You are also thankful when the cafeteria servers bring you an extra pudding so you don’t have to door dash or leave your child to go get lunch or the mom in the next room with their child who checks in to see if you need a coffee when they run out to grab one. These are the unexpected relationships that I was blessed with in the medical team and the other families I met along the way.
This video of Austin’s cancer journey shows all the hardships but most of all it shows his strength and the strength of our family Eric Mitchell, Skylar Mitchell, Savannah Mitchell, our faith, and the love and support of all our family and friends.
Austin is now 3 years post treatment and is flourishing at 17. Austin and all children who battle cancer are “Warriors”. This journey changed my perspective on life and has made me a better person. During Austin’s last severe reaction to chemo, which caused him to have a severe case of mucositis resulting in a three week inpatient stay at the hospital, I had a dream to start a nonprofit, which after telling Austin, he said “Mom do it!” That was the day we created, Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer to support pediatric cancer families by providing them with the items we identified through personal experience that are essential to have during this journey as well as receiving support from other families.
In this journey, my son Austin, taught me how to be strong and because of him, he has given me the strength to help other families. Today, I celebrate my son Austin’s courage, strength, determination, his joy, and most of all his golden heart. He is a light that shines bright, and I know his angels, Ashley and Samantha, are always watching over him and have his back! I love you son to infinity and beyond and I’m so proud to be your mama.💚❤️💛
Our motto-Carry your family, We’ll carry you 💛 MBFCC.org
