Meet Debi Mitchell

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Debi Mitchell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Debi below.

Hi Debi, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Hello – I’m Debi Mitchell, President of Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer. I found my purpose in supporting pediatric cancer families through my son’s cancer diagnosis. In January 2021, my son Austin, at the age of 12, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Acute T-Cell Lymphoblastic Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. What turned out to be a doctor’s visit for possibly asthma or pneumonia turned into a life-threatening disease. My son was immediately admitted to the hospital, then transferred by ambulance to another hospital for life-saving treatment. This was the day that changed our lives forever. Austin spent the majority of the first-year inpatient receiving aggressive chemotherapy treatment and, unfortunately, fighting severe infections caused by his body becoming neutropenic (immune compromised). While inpatient, I was blessed to meet four other moms who were also inpatient with their child fighting cancer. We leaned on each other, supported each other through the good and the bad, and shared tips and tricks that made our lengthy hospital stays more comfortable. We were all thankful for the organizations that worked to support our kids but found it odd that there wasn’t anyone focusing on supporting the parent who is fighting cancer along their child’s side. We created Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer to be that organization that recognizes and supports the parent and caregiver.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a proud mother of three wonderful children and a wife to an amazing husband of 29 years. My family is my greatest accomplishment. My oldest daughter Skylar graduated from California State University, Sacramento at 21 on the Dean’s list and at 22 blessed us with our first grandson in December 2023. My second daughter Savannah is 21 and lives half the year in Germany and has become my international traveler. My son Austin is now 15 and in remission after completing two and half years of chemotherapy treatment. He is doing well, is in High School and pursuing acting. My career for the past 30 years has been with the State of California. I currently manage an entire licensing division for a regulatory board. I continue to work full-time in my current job in addition to my responsibilities with Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer. I have the honor of being a co-founder and the President of Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer which continues to provide me with comfort knowing our organization is supporting newly diagnosed pediatric cancer families. Each time I deliver a Hospital Survival Wagon to a new family, I see that familiar look of fear and it reinforces the importance of our organization. When I tell a parent they are not alone and see the spark of relief in their eyes it feeds my heart and fuels me to work the extra hours to ensure our organization continues to achieve its mission. I’m looking forward to the day when I can retire from my state job and dedicate all my time to Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer.

Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer’s mission is to support and empower parents and caregivers of pediatric cancer patients through immediate support and ongoing community. We help parents navigate the pediatric oncology universe and provide them with the support and tools needed to advocate for their child.

We support pediatric cancer parents by delivering Hospital Survival Wagons or Clinic Carts to newly diagnosed families being treated at the eight Northern California Children’s Hospitals we serve. The Hospital Survival Wagons and Clinic Carts are filled with necessary items to help families during their child’s cancer journey. Often, one parent must take leave or quit their job entirely to care for their child, and they do not have the financial means to purchase the items provided by Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer. In addition to the wagons and carts, we provide private confidential community support groups for parents and caregivers to seek and provide support to each other 24/7. Our wagons, carts, and community support groups provide immediate and ongoing support and comfort to pediatric families to increase their resiliency in the face of these challenges.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I always felt I was a strong independent person and as a mom, I’m naturally a mama bear. Fighting and advocating for my son was something I was going to do to the very end. Through this cancer journey I realized that you need help, and it is ok to ask for help. I learned the benefits of support and community. Having other moms to talk to and lean on who were going through the same journey was something I didn’t even realize I needed until they were there. I found that during this journey, I’m stronger than I thought I was, and I’m more compassionate than I realized. Seeing how different families handle their child’s cancer journey has made me realize that each person handles life altering moments differently and each way has value and benefits. I think maybe most importantly, I have learned that it’s okay to not be okay. My advice to families that receive the heartbreaking news your child has cancer is to let your barriers down and accept help. You need to have an outlet to share your fears and anxieties so that you can show up strong for your child.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer is entirely volunteer-based and we are always looking for volunteers to assist us in our mission. All donations we receive go directly to providing a Hospital Survival Wagon or Clinic Cart to a pediatric cancer family whose child is being treated in Northern California. We are always looking to partner with businesses to sponsor our organization and host charity fundraiser events. We believe in the importance of collaborating with other nonprofits to support pediatric cancer families and in advocating for Childhood Cancer Awareness. We invite you to contact us and share our organization to come along side Mama Bears Fighting Childhood Cancer to help support a pediatric cancer family today. Visit MBFCC.org.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mbfcc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamabearsfcc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamabears.fcc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mama-bears-fighting-childhood-cancer%F0%9F%8E%97-415528244/