Loving, kind, adventurous, amazing, connected to nature
As the youngest child in his family for quite some time, Mitchel was a natural entertainer. A cheeky smile paired with his quick wit captured everyone’s attention and kept it as long as he was in the room. His ability to make people laugh and feel special made him seem larger than life. The only thing larger than his magnetic personality was his love for those closest to him. “Mitchel was an amazing person,” his mother Lindsay said. “He loved his family and friends very much and would do anything for them.”
After many years of enjoying the spotlight as “baby” to seven siblings, Mitchel’s youngest brother was born. Rather than sulk over any attention lost, Mitchel was ecstatic. The first gift he ever bought with his own money was for his youngest brother: a pair of shark slippers. Whether it was featuring his brother on FaceTime calls with friends, watching videos together in his room, or adventuring the outdoors, Mitchel helped weave his little brother seamlessly into the family. All nine siblings shared close relationships, regardless of blood or age difference.
Mitchel was an active young man with a strong connection to nature. Aside from playing baseball, which he had a natural talent for, his hobbies included anything that involved the outdoors. Playing sports, walking trails, fishing, building campfires, swimming, surfing, boogie boarding–the list was endless. He especially enjoyed sharing these interests with his siblings and friends.
The change in Mitchel’s personality after he began using substances was jarring. “We never knew when his moods would change,” Lindsay said. “He became angry with everyone and could say the meanest things. He would never do that before.” Mitchel was in and out of hospitals and treatment facilities throughout the one and a half years he experienced substance use disorder, though only one out-patient facility tested for fentanyl–something that baffled Lindsay.
“I now know that this is not a choice,” she said. “All he wanted was to be free of substances, but just couldn’t do it on his own. We feel like we failed him. We felt that the health care system failed us.”
Attempting to flee from an inpatient facility, Mitchel was hit by a car. He was hospitalized and returned home to recover from his injuries. He was not actively using substances for a month until he snuck out one night to get what would be his last pill.
After Mitchel’s passing, some of his friends, who had also been struggling with addiction, sought help. Lindsay and Kevin, Mitchel’s father, are actively working to bridge gaps in awareness, treatment, and support in the system that failed Mitchel.
“We just miss his smile and his overall presence,” Lindsay shared. “He could always make us laugh. His little brother misses him terribly and will say things like, “I can’t wait to go to heaven to play with Mitchel again.” This is just gut wrenching. He had goals and dreams. He was a light in our world and we all miss him terribly.
Mitchel’s parents, Lindsay and Kevin Pultz, provided the information for this narrative.
February 5, 2006 -September 18, 2023-Age 17
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Angela Day
