Mitchell Dee Jones April 29, 2002 - March 2, 2013
Mitchell Dee Jones died of acute heart failure at the tender age of 10 years old in his home at 1:30AM Saturday, March 2nd 2013. At age 3, Mitchell was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a catastrophic muscle wasting disease that is generally fatal by late teens/early twenties. Mitchell’s health took a turn for the worse in the Spring of 2012 when his family learned Muscular Dystrophy had prematurely destroyed his heart and threatened to shorten his life much sooner than expected. For the next 9 months his parents worked closely with his cardiologist to save their little boy and slow the progression. But the ravages of Muscular Dystrophy would not be curbed.
Mitchell will always be remembered for his quiet dignity, gentle love of others, sense of humor, luck with board games, his love of life, adventure and family. Even though his body was weak, his spirit was quiet and strong – and those that got to know him felt it.
At the time of his passing, Mitch still believed in Santa, thought girls were gross and thought his mother was the most beautiful, comforting person on earth. Mitchell had a unique bond with his father whom he loved so much. Our sweet son placed a high premium on his relationship with family and being home - something that has changed our lives forever.
Mitchell’s Journey as documented on Facebook has had a unique impact across the globe. His life and story has touched the hearts of tens of thousands of people of all ages, religions, and cultures. His legacy of innocence, love and faith will leave a ripple effect of softened hearts and inspiring faith in God that may never be truly understood in this life. It would seem that he is the personification of “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” (Alma 37:6)
VIEWING
A viewing will be held at the Stake Center Friday Evening from 6PM – 8PM for close family, friends and neighbors.
FUNERAL SERVICE
Will be held on Saturday, March 9th, 2013 at the Herriman Utah Rose Canyon Stake Center (7079 Rose Canyon Road, Herriman, UT 84096).
Pre-viewing at 9:00-10:00AM.
Family gathering at 10:30AM.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM.
Interment will be held at the Herriman Cemetery following the funeral service.
The Jones family wishes to express our gratitude to the many family, friends and supporters of Mitchell and his Journey. Your love and compassion made his final weeks something for him to treasure and something his family will hold close to their hearts the remainder of their lives.
" ........ Somewhere on the other side of this hell is the Heavenly promise of peace and reunion – but that’s a lifetime away and [learning to cope with] death and separation from our young boy who [wanted] so much to live, cuts us deeply. It’s easy to talk of God and life after death in Sunday school, but to come face to face with it is [bewildering].
But alas, we are grateful to know there is life after life ... and we have seen tender mercies in our family, even in the midst of our pain. While there are many today who have abandoned belief in God, we stand resolute … with an absolute knowledge of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have seen Him work in our lives; warning us, preparing us, and lifting us when we hardly have the strength to stand. We remain grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its healing, transcendent power. As C.S. Lewis once said of suffering, “Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even [agony] into [glory].” This we know.
As we process all that is happening and the tender pains of losing our precious child, we have felt a quiet whisper that Mitchell was never really ours in the first place, but he is on loan to us from the Father of us all. He, like each of us, will return to Heavenly Father with a perfectly executed life experience filled with hardship and happiness; all designed to refine our souls for greater purposes.
*I took this photo of Mitchell in the fall of 2012. I added some paint textures to prepare to print on a canvas.*
* PLEASE NOTE: This photo was taken just as Mitchell went to sleep, the night he passed away.*
Dear Family, Friends and Loving Supporters,
At approximately 1:30 AM (Saturday, March 2nd) our sweet Mitchell passed away.
In the hours leading up to his passing we gathered around him as a family, spoke with him, told him how much we loved him, kissed him, cuddled and loved this young man with all that we had. We were grateful that he was able to squeeze our hands to acknowledge he was hearing us. We will miss our baby so very much. Mitchell, while weak in body was giant in spirit.
Last week Mitchell told me that his favorite day is Friday saying it "felt special" because we usually dedicated that evening to family. So in honor of our boy we had our weekly Friday night "den party" but this time in his room. We all spoke softly as we watched a movie and enjoyed each other's company. Mitchell was fading throughout the night, but he kept giving us hand squeeze signals that he was with us and we are sure he loved having us all spend time with him.
Just as I had drifted off to sleep at around 1:00AM I had an impression that I should formally tuck him in (something he asks me to do every night). I got up from the floor, pulled his blanket over his chest, kissed his forehead and whispered into his ear, "Mitchie, this is Dad. I am tucking you in, just as you like it. Remember what we talked about ... don't be afraid, everything is okay. I love you, son. So very much." With that, I kissed him on the forehead a few more times, pressed my face against his and squeezed his hand. Mitchell passed away in less than an hour. I was so grateful to hear that impression and that I acted on it. I would hope that he heard my voice and recognized he had one last tuck and cuddle with his daddy and that it brought him peace and assurance.
Natalie spent the entire evening cradling and caressing her son and assuring him that he was okay and that he was safe in her arms. She never left his side. Natalie has been a valiant and loving mother to her son. I took this photo of Natalie and Mitch last night just before midnight. She loved him with all that she had and served him even more.
In the coming days, weeks and months we will be sharing some events along Mitchell's Journey that have strengthened our faith in God, widened our view of suffering, tender experiences with Mitch, things we learned from Mitchell and some of the remarkable things we learned about you, Mitchell's Journey followers.
We want to thank all of you who reached out to our boy to offer love and support. Your packages and letters of encouragement made him feel special. Your notes on this Facebook page were read to him daily and it made him feel that he wasn't alone. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you.
Our hearts are heavy with sorrow, but filled with gratitude and peace. Mitchell's Journey is not over: it has only just begun ... in this life and the life after.
Natalie reading to our baby this afternoon. While she read to him, she would reach to his and and Mitch would often squeeze Natalie's hand to let her know he loved her. He has done that since the day he was a wee tike. Hand hugs are one of his signature expressions.