Sometimes, without warning, life deals someone a blow that changes their life and their future forever. Steve Mitchell is one of the people that had that kind of life changing event when he was a young boy. But, the amazing thing is that even though it changed him physically, it did not change his true makeup or his spirit. Steve knew he was going to make it no matter what the odds were and against all odds.

Steve loved everything about summer. He did not have to go to school and could ride his bike everyday. He did everything most eleven year olds did. He played baseball and was very good at it. His passion for sports got him excited every time he hit the baseball diamond. He also loved and played pee wee football.

On June 23, 1967, Steve’s life as he and his family knew it would change. That day his future dreams would be smashed along with his favorite bike. Steve’s mom asked him to ride to the store and get a loaf of bread. He loved to ride his bike to the store, so he readily agreed. As he rode his bike out of the driveway onto Hwy 287 in Sardis, without warning, he was propelled off his bike when a car traveling 70 m.p.h. struck him.

He remembers very little about what happened after that. An ambulance transported him to the hospital in Waxahachie then on to St. Paul Hospital in Dallas where doctors did not give the family much hope of recovery. After all, Steve was just lucky to be alive and had only a 50/50 chance to survive.

“I don’t think it was luck at all,” said Mitchell. “God had always had a plan for me so He knew I would make it.”

Mitchell was in the hospital for six weeks, most of that time in a coma. He says he was in heaven with God for about 5 ½ weeks.

“God showed me how I would be reborn,” Mitchell explained. “I was looking down from heaven at my messed up body in the hospital bed. I could see my mama and daddy were there.”

Steve explained that was not his last encounter with God. He knows He was with him the day of the accident and also believes He has been with him each day since then.

Because of the trauma, Steve’s skull was knocked away from his vertebra. This caused many physical and neurological problems like tremors, inability to walk, talk or function. Champ Mitchell, Steve’s father, was very innovative in the therapy he used to motivate Steve to overcome all the obstacles he faced.

“My dad would put barbells on the rails on the side of my hospital bed so I could use them to build my strength. He would drag me over to the wall and stand me up so I could learn to walk again. He taped popsicle sticks to my fingers to keep them straight.”

Steve never complained about his situation or the emotional or physical pain he suffered. Some of the kids at school made fun of him, but instead of becoming bitter, he tried even harder to get along with them.

With hard work and determination, Steve returned to the sport he loved. He played little league baseball in 1968 and was presented the Most Desired to Play Award. After the accident he began to box and won the Golden Gloves five times.

He returned to the football field three years after the accident. He also ran track. He has been a race car driver on dirt track and goes dove hunting every year. He never lets anything get in his way.

“I knew I could not give up. I had to do it. All my life I have never given up on anything and decided not to ever give up,” Steve said.

When asked how he feels about the driver of the vehicle that changed his life, he explained he forgave her a long time ago. Even after the accident he feels blessed every day. He has family and friends that love him. He loves the relationship he has with his mother, Doris Mitchell. He is thankful for her love and care during the time he was so sick.

For a long time, Steve Mitchell felt his story was worth telling and wanted someone to tell it. He talked to everybody that would listen. Finally Tracy James Jones wrote No Tears For A Hero, The Stephen Mitchell Story (Dorrance Publishing Co.).

Even though Steve was thankful the book told his story, he knew his story would make a great movie. He pushed until that happened. In 2008, Steve Mitchell’s dream came true when Mark Birnbaum in association with Brokedown Films produced Champ, The Steve Mitchell Story.

Mitchell will never forget the night his documentary premiered at the Texas Theater in Waxahachie. It was shown to a packed house to the delight of Steve Mitchell. He spoke after the movie ended and got a standing ovation. There was not a dry eye in the theater.

“After all these years, my story was finally told. They told me it couldn’t be done, but I did it. I am the real life Rocky.”

“I want anyone that has had problems in life to know they can overcome any obstacle if they just try. You cannot lay around feeling sorry for yourself – you have to give it your all. Look at me, I am proof that anyone can do it,” Steve explained.

The documentary, Champ, The Steve Mitchell Story, is available for purchase for $20 at the Uptown Café in Italy.