We recently had the chance to connect with Kathy Mullen and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Kathy, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Oh my goodness YES!! A music project I couldn’t have ever imagined! On a whim, I asked Ross Vannelli, an award winning music producer, songwriter, composer, video producer and editor, if he would write a song for my non-profit, Mullen’s Miracles. His answer was not only yes, but the beginning of a legacy project.
Ross was aware I had lost my only child, Eric Mullen, to suicide which has manifested into a mission saving lives from mental health crisis. Ross really leaned into this project with me and my partner, Jeff Pike, learning more about our focus and goals to help others. What started as one song, has turned into 11 original songs with videos, written and produced by Ross himself.
Music and the arts has always held a special place in my heart and our family, all of my life. There is a transformative and healing power through music, and a resource for mental well-being. Releasing our first music video, We Go On, from the album, Live Like There’s No Tomorrow, has had over 1.1 million views in just a little over a month.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I am Kathy Mullen, an Angel Mom. I am a music lover, an outdoorsy and adventurous person, with a passion for helping others through my personal experience of suicide loss. Figuring out how to maneuver through life, learning how to live and finding joy again when your life has been shattered. I am the founder and executive director of Mullen’s Miracles.
I had a successful career in Technology when my life got turned upside down by a rapid succession of tragic losses. This series of life-altering events led me to my calling. I have shifted my focus to creating Mullen’s Miracles, a non profit that offers education, support and recovery strategies to those considering suicide and to those that have lost a loved one to suicide. Mullen’s Miracles was created in honor of my son, Eric Mullen, FE 26, whom I lost to suicide on October 2, 2018. My final commitment to Eric was that I would work until my last breath ensuring fewer families and friends would have to face a life shattered by the impacts of suicide.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Wow! Great question. When I was younger and throughout the majority of my life, I questioned if I was enough and if anything in my life would matter and what could I do that would be worth a legacy. Living a fairly simple and routine life my whole life, I never imagined anything I would do, would make an impact to others. That belief changed while I was sitting next to Eric’s bed at the hospital, waiting for his organs to be placed with recipients, saving 5 lives and impacting more through tissue and bone donation. I didn’t know how I would create a legacy not only for Eric but my time on earth too – I just knew this was something I had to do, without having a plan or a way to go forward. It just wasn’t optional! Now, through Mullen’s Miracles we are building a legacy around suicide prevention, support and going on after loss – and of course, Organ Donation..
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
YES! Quite honestly I personally had never experienced Mental Health issues until losing my son, Eric. From that experience, I quickly learned how a healthy person can become very unhealthy, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. A few months after he passed, I got to a point where I felt one emotion, sadness. Nothing else. Not for a few days, but weeks on end. I couldn’t imagine living the rest of my life in sadness. I was in therapy but I had not idea how to live like this. I was 57 years old at the time, and it clicked for me at what it is like to live with mental illness. How people in a mental health crisis can’t figure out how to go on. I thought I had a lot of coping skills and resilience, but I was wrong. This helped me understand the place Eric was prior to his final act. When I spoke to my partner, Jeff about where I was mentally, we quickly found additional help for well over a year, to learn how to walk this grief journey and unimaginable loss. I also was told I could go on medications but in the long run, I would have to come off the medications and go through the grief. I chose to deal with the grief and loss head on – moving forward with enough resilience and support until I could learn how to live through acceptance and giving myself grace.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say yes, for the most part anyway. I have learned to hide my emotions pretty good in public. It can be awkward and uncomfortable to watch someone cry in public when unexpected. Grief is one of those things that comes and goes, many times without warning, the waves there. I believe it can be though enough to deal with your own grief, let alone know how to support someone else through theirs, unless you are experienced with grief.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
She loved her son and family fiercely, and learned how to rebuild a completely shattered life, with the love and support of many close to her. Somehow, from the shadows of despair, she followed through on her commitment to Eric, of doing everything she could for other families not to experience a suicide loss. And her personal goal through Mullen’s Miracles – to save / impact 1 Million lives from suicide. Through her support and strength, she managed to help others live hteir best life too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mullensmiracles.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mullensmiracles/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathymullen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MullensMiraclesUSA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mullensmiracles9208
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@coaproductions
Image Credits
Nina Ferentinos – photo credit of Kathy in brown leather jacket
