
Promise to Make a Difference
From Scars to Stars™ Podcast by Deana Brown Mitchell
December 11, 2025 · 44 min · Episode 117
About this episode
John K. Bates shares his journey through multiple health crises and the promise that helped him find hope and healing.
In this Scars to Stars™ episode, John K. Bates opens up about surviving not just one, but multiple life-threatening health crises; first nearly dying from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and years later enduring a severe post-surgery infection that spiraled into clinical depression, anxiety, and akathisia. He shares candidly what it’s like to lose hope, to quietly consider ending it all, and to feel like joy and normalcy are gone forever. How one promise he made to “make a difference” and one person telling him, “You’re going to be okay,” helped him hold on. John’s story is a powerful reminder that our intuition matters, our pain is real, and that even in the darkest seasons, healing and purpose can return. This conversation is for anyone who has felt invisible inside their own struggle and needs to know, deeply, that they are not alone and that conversations truly can save lives. #scarstostars #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness #conversations #community #personalstory #havetheconversation #savealifechallenge #virtualevents #amazonbestseller #suicideawareness #mentalhealthmatters #kindnessmatters #Stevens-JohnsonSyndrome #infection #depression #anxiety #akathisia
People in this episode
Host: Deana Brown Mitchell
Guest: John K. Bates
Topics covered
- mental health
- survival
- depression
- anxiety
- healing
- hope
Keywords
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- depression
- anxiety
- akathisia
- mental health awareness
- suicide prevention
- healing
- hope
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Scars to Stars™ Podcast
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