People familiar with Mia St. John are also aware of the turbulent life that she has had. While the former welterweight champion excelled in all aspects of her boxing career, she was constantly struck down by hardships in her personal life. Such is the life of Mia. Despite being at the pinnacle of success, she has had to grapple with a myriad of problems in her family life. It started with her ex-spouse, her kids, and so on. However, undeterred, Mia was resilient and headstrong as she fought the battle with her head held high.

No matter how graceful a person is in times of distress, the war they fight within themselves is never heard or spoken of. We can only imagine what Mia had to endure as she navigated through multiple struggles in her familial life. She separated from her husband, the ex-actor Kristoff St. John, in 1995. But the biggest tragedy fell upon her when her son Jullian died by suicide in 2014. As she set forth on the journey to heal from the devastating loss, her worst fear of history repeating itself knocked on her doorstep.

Mia St. John opens up about her daughter’s mental health

In what was a very moving Tweet, Mia informed her fans and well-wishers that her daughter Paris St. John is healing and doing well. She also wrote an endearing message to her late ex-husband and Paris’ father, saying that their child was doing better and that she wished he were here to witness it. This comes in the wake of Mia’s earlier statement that her daughter, too, is battling some mental health issues.

In April of this year, Paris was arrested by the police at a WinCo supermarket in Boise, Idaho. She was found alone, praying in the supermarket. After being apprehended, Paris tried to escape custody, which led to her being charged with indecent exposure, resisting arrest, and escape. In a positive yet heartbreaking Tweet, Mia St. thanked doctors for their timely care for Paris. She further expressed her fear of losing both her children to Mental Illness.

Mia’s journey through sobriety and her son’s death

In her memoir, ‘Fighting for My Life,’ The 54-year-old former champion elaborated on how she navigated through the loss of her child and other tragedies in her life. The book speaks about her younger days, when she learned to fight after being bullied in school. She further elaborated on her struggles with drug addiction during her teenage years. She drifted toward combat and martial arts, which helped her remain sober for the remainder of her life.

The book’s major premise is the devastating loss of her son, Julien St. John, whom she co-parented with her ex-husband Kristoff. Julien was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia when he turned 18.

Also Read: Fans Send Love and Prayers to Boxing Legend as Daughter Hospitalized a Month After Opening Up About Son’s Suicide: “Hang In There, Mia [St. John]”

Generally, such a diagnosis is not given until the person turns 18, but Mia had a sense of what her son might be going through. Her fears got the best of her when he was found dead in his rehab center. It was just two months after he was admitted.

In her life’s work, Mia is not only known for her success in boxing but also for the work she does to spread the word about mental health. Stemming from her personal grief and loss, she has devoted herself to this work. She recognizes the voice that she has. And she harnesses it to help young kids like hers who suffer from mental illness, homelessness, and addiction. This is the journey of Mia St. John. One that reminds us of her kindness and her bravery but also keeps us grounded and inspired to help the world in distress.

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