A Texas family is grieving after the unexpected death of their 16-year-old daughter after she was found unconscious while away from cheerleading camp in July.
Katy native Callie Marie Mitchell was attending Texas A&M University camp when a coach discovered she had passed out. After performing CPR, she was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston where she tragically died on August 1.
In an interview with KHU, Mitchell’s mother, Michelle, said the teenager was “super excited” about camp. Before his daughter was discovered by the coach, he had called Mitchell’s parents to ask if she was having trouble waking up in the morning.
Her mother, who is a vice principal at Ranch High School, where her daughter attended, said she told the coach, “No, never.”
The parents credited the trainer who performed the CPR saying their actions at least allowed them to say goodbye to their daughter.
“Without (Coach) Eberly, we never would have had the chance to say goodbye,” Michelle said. “(She) always wanted to be everyone’s friend,” her dad added.
Texas teenager Callie Mitchell died unexpectedly after losing consciousness while at cheerleading camp
Last week, Mitchell was honored by the Universal Cheerleading Association as she was named an honorary American cheerleader for life.
Mitchell’s family credited trainer Lorraine Eberly, shown here, with actions in administering CPR to the teenager which at least got them to say goodbye
“More than anything, she would want them to have faith in God and now that they are redeemed,” her mother also said.
His father said in an interview with Katie Magazine that he last spoke with his daughter the night before she was found unconscious.
“You could hear the joy and happiness in her voice,” he said.
Scott said his daughter likely died of Long QT Syndrome, “a cardiac signaling disorder that can cause rapid, chaotic heartbeats,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
“For all the other parents out there, you know they do physicals every year…EKGs are not part of a physical exam…get an EKG,” Scott told KHOU, who added that Mitchell had no never showed any warning signs regarding his health.
During the interview, her parents said Mitchell started clapping when she was two years old. Last week, she was honored by the Universal Cheerleading Association as she was named Honorary Lifetime All American Cheerleader.
One of her cheer coaches, Justin Castleberry, told Katy Magazine: “Some kids you connect with on a different level and Callie was one of those kids. She brought joy and light to the room and everyone she met.
“You dream of coaching the kids you are so connected to. When you coach, you are not just coaching the kid, but you are part of their family,” he added while saying his team will dedicate its season to Mitchell.
Mitchell’s faith is evident in an online obituary which notes that she even named her car “Faith”. Her last Instagram Story was a post that read, “His plan over mine.”
“She was like the sun,” her mother continued in the KHOU interview.
Mitchell pictured here with her father, Scott
Mitchell’s mother Michelle said the teenager was ‘super excited’ to attend cheer camp this summer
Mitchell aspired to become a child psychologist after leaving school
In his obituary, Mitchell’s fondness for Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Free Birds, queso, and Texas Roadhouse is noted in addition to “a special place in his heart for his French Bulldogs, Eugene and Ruby.”
She is also referred to as a “devoted Taylor Swift fan”. The tribute also states that Mitchell had “a unique connection to time and would make a wish at 11:11 a.m., trusting in the magic of the moment.”
At her family church, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Houston, she sat in the front row and attended Great Adventure Camp where she earned the title of leader-in-training, intending to become adviser one day. This was in addition to volunteering in the community through his participation in the National Benevolent League.
Mitchell aspired to become a child psychologist after leaving school.
“Callie had strong faith. She read her Bible daily and was often at Starbucks studying her Bible,’ Scott told Katy Magazine.
Mitchell’s family hosted a celebration of life Tuesday with a pink theme, her favorite color. Her cheer coach, named Denise, wrote in tribute to the event: “I will always remember my laughing little girl!”
“I will forever carry your strength and joy wherever I go,” she said.
“It is heartwarming to know what a shining light she was to others as well as the impact she had far and wide,” her family wrote in the invitation to the event.
In addition to her parents, Mitchell is survived by her six siblings.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Mitchell’s family through this difficult time
As of this writing, the page has raised over $34,000. The original goal was $25,000
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Mitchell’s family through this difficult time. As of this writing, the page has raised over $34,000. The original goal was $25,000.
Among the contributors was Villa Sports, where Mitchell had recently started working. His brother, Luke, also works there.
Spurred on by the deaths of teenagers like Mitchell who die of sudden cardiac arrest each year, Texas lawmakers made their state the first to require public high school athletes to undergo EKG testing in 2015.
The law, named Cody’s Law, was named in honor of Cody Stephens, a teenage football player from the state who died suddenly in 2012.
