This sunday KSL (a local news station) is airing a short documentary on Mitchell's Journey and its impact on others.
This is what they posted:
"1:30-2 p.m. Mitchell’s Journey: A grieving father’s blog, about his young son’s journey towards death, goes viral. The messages in this blog flood the world with hope and provide comfort and direction for people of many faiths."
I was able to see a small segment of what they produced a few weeks ago and I was humbled to hear what others had to say about Mitchell's Journey and how it affected them.
They will be streaming the story on Mitchell's Journey live at 1:30PM (MDT) at this link:
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=31803269&nid=1016&title=special-ksl-general-conference-programming-will-focus-on-faith-family-and-miracles
OTHER SHORT NEWS SPOTS
Here are a few other stories they wrote about Mitchell's Journey along the way:
Boy with muscular dystrophy inspires thousands through Facebook
February 20, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24151387
Former BYU football star inspired by Utah boy's courageous fight
February 27, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24215840
'Mitchell's Journey' comes to an end after inspiring thousands
March 2nd, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24255769
Herriman City declares day in honor of Mitchell Jones
March 28, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24581282
'Miles for Mitchell' to honor life of inspiring boy with muscular dystrophy
May 3, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=25032422
Parents of boy in 'Mitchell's Journey' reflect on their experience
January 1, 2014
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28212008
When Mitch called out to me at the hospital and asked if I would cuddle with him my heart melted. As father and son, we cuddled all the time, but this time was different because I knew his heart was failing and I didn’t know if it would be our last. My sweet wife took a photo of us with her iPhone as I handed Mitch a teddy bear she gave him. My little boy smiled as I kissed his forehead and softly hugged him. I wouldn't have traded that moment with Mitch for all the money in the world.
At this moment Mitch wasn't aware his life was at its end. That was a burden we would quietly carry for a few more weeks so Mitch could live as normal a life as possible. To our dismay, we couldn't protect him from the inevitable, but we could protect him from worry and fear – and in this instance, my wife and I felt that was best for Mitch. We eventually told him, but we wanted him to be happy for just a little while longer. That was our gift to him.
In the coming weeks we began to witness the miracle of the afterlife – that our son was being spiritually prepared for his own transition. I will write of those experiences another time – but there is no doubt there is more to mortality than we can see with our mortal eyes. So much more.
Even still, I find myself wrestling with grief in the most unexpected ways. Just this morning I awoke at 4:30 in a sheer panic, wanting to save my son. When I realized he was gone and I couldn't save him, I wept. I used to wake up every morning in a heart-pounding panic … thankfully those mornings are less frequent. But they still happen, and when they do, they are soul crushing. I dislike those mornings because I have to relive the shock and horror of my son’s death as if it just happened.
Just a few days ago Herriman City experienced some flooding and I was told it affected part of the cemetery. That evening, as I left work, I drove to the cemetery as quickly as I could, worried about how the flood affected Mitch. I couldn't get there fast enough and wanted to help my boy. I knew he wasn't there – but in my heart I wanted him to be. I was grateful his spot wasn't affected, but my heart went out to others who were. Even in death, I yearn to protect my son and am pained that I cannot.
Although I want so badly to protect my son, sometimes, when my soul is quiet and I’m listening with my heart, I realize the opposite is true … that now Mitch is protecting me.
One day, in what feels an eternity from now, I will see my little boy again. And I will weep. I will also realize that he is no longer a child – that, in fact, the opposite is true: the soul of my little boy is much older than I ever knew.