Heartbreak of Losing a Child

Aired Sunday, 6 November 2016, 2:00 PM ET

This Sunday we discuss the heartbreaking story of a mother Mia St. John as she lost her son as he was being treated at a mental health facility to suicide.

On Nov. 23, I received the call no parent wants to get – my only son was dead. My beautiful, 24-year-old boy was gone. It is a nightmare I have yet to wake up from; one I will never wake up from.

About the Guest Mia St. John

Mia St. John was born in San Francisco, California. Her fighting career started soon after, at the age of six, competing in Tae Kwon Do. Mia earned a black belt and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from California State University of Northridge in June of ’94.

In 1996, Mia decided to pursue her true passion full-time, the sport of combat. Valentine’s Day, 1997, Mia made her pro-debut in boxing, knocking out her opponent in fifty-four seconds into the first round. Mia signed with Don King and stayed with him for a year and a half before she left King for his rival Bob Arum of Top Rank. At Top Rank, Mia spent four years opening for all of Oscar De La Hoya’s major fights.

In the November 1999 issue of Playboy magazine, Mia appeared on the cover along with an eleven page celebrity pictorial. Mia insisted the pictures maintain a boxing theme so that the world would know she is a fighter first and foremost.

As well as being a hard-hitting boxer, Mia is media savvy. She has made appearances on such shows as, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, “Good Morning America,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Extra,” “TMZ,” “E,” and countless others. She has also acted in commercials and played herself on t. v. shows. Mia also has her own Playstation game by EA sports.

Currently her book, “The Knockout Workout” and fitness dvd, is in stores now nationwide. She is also hosting for networks such as, Fox Sports Net, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and color commentating for PPV fights.

Mia has fought all over the world, including Beijing, China, where she won her IBA Championship. After accumulating an unheard of boxing record of nearly 60 pro fights, on June 14th, 2008, Mia fulfilled her dream of fighting in her mother’s home country of Mexico. She fought one of the toughest fights of her career and became the WBC International Boxing Champion of the World at the age of 40.

In November of ’08 she was awarded by the Governor of Zacatecas, Mexico an outstanding achievement award for her role in sports and humanitarianism. The WBC also presented her with the 2008 “WBC Goodwill Ambassador” Award.

In November of 2010, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano joined Mia and LA Laker Ron Artest for an official mental health and suicide prevention training at Napolitano’s district office in Santa Fe Springs. Artest and St. John have joined Napolitano to promote the Mental Health in Schools Act, legislation she authored which would increase federal funding for mental health therapists in schools.

She also spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, where President Barack Obama made a riveting speech at the CHCI’s annual Gala.

As well as Congress, Mia speaks in schools and juvenile halls on the importance of education and overcoming hardship. She speaks of her own battles with mental illness, addiction, poverty and overcoming it all, to become a three time international boxing champion.

On August 14th, 2012, Mia fought Christy Martin in a long awaited rematch. Her dream of sixteen years finally materialized and at the age of 45, she captured the WBC Super Welter Weight Championship of the World.

Web links to where the listeners can find your work on Internet: http://www.miastjohnfoundation.org/