Juno’s Fight for Life: You Can Make a Difference in Her Recovery

On the evening of Wednesday, September 10th, Juno Mitchell and her mom, Shanna, were on their way to get dinner and boba when they passed an auto shop with a car parked out front. Juno immediately noticed smoke pouring from the vehicle and recognized what appeared to be a gas leak. With her experience working as a mechanic, she knew there was a real possibility the car could soon catch fire. She had every reason to believe the people inside were in danger if they didn’t realize what was happening. While Shanna called 911, Juno insisted on getting out of the car and acted quickly, putting herself at risk to make sure complete strangers were safe.

After making sure everyone was out of harm’s way, Shanna felt an immense wave of relief watching Juno walk back through the crosswalk toward their car. But just as Juno was nearly across, another vehicle came speeding through the empty lane next to her. The driver, traveling about 55 miles per hour, failed to stop at the red light and, from what Shanna could tell, never even attempted to brake before striking Juno with tremendous force. The impact threw Juno nearly 30 feet through the air, leaving Shanna racing to reach her daughter’s side.

Juno is known by everyone who loves her as incredibly kind and selfless, always the first to step up when someone is in need, and this night was no different. In the seconds after the impact, Shanna’s instincts took over. There was no plan, only a mother’s desperate need to reach her daughter. She pulled her car into the intersection to get closer to Juno, shield her from oncoming traffic, and create space for paramedics. Shanna stayed by her daughter’s side, carefully supporting her, keeping her safe, and crying out for help until emergency responders were finally able to get through the crowd. During those terrifying minutes, she kept Juno breathing and did everything in her power to keep her alive until the paramedics arrived.

Juno was transported to Mercy San Juan, where a trauma team rushed her into emergency surgery. She underwent a lifesaving craniectomy, a procedure where part of the skull is removed to relieve swelling and pressure from her severe traumatic brain injury. After she was stabilized, Juno was transferred to UC Davis, where she remains in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in critical condition. She is in a coma, intubated, and being closely monitored by teams of doctors, nurses, and specialists working around the clock to keep her stable. Even in the best-case scenario, Juno will need additional surgeries, and she faces a long road to recovery with months of intensive care and years of rehabilitation ahead.

Juno is just two months away from her 18th birthday. Instead of planning her celebration, she is in the fight of her life. And if anyone can fight through this, it’s Juno. She is the feistiest 17-year-old you will ever meet: stubborn, unapologetically true to herself, and unafraid to stand for what she believes in. She is a force to be reckoned with, determined and unforgettable. Those who know her can’t help but admire her spirit.

Juno’s drive, ambition, and intelligence show in everything she does. Taking college courses at American River College, getting a head start on her future while still in high school. She was on track to graduate early from La Entrada High School while also dual-enrolled at San Juan High School in the ROP Auto Mechanics program. She is ASE and CTE certified and serves as the shop foreman, a role she takes great pride in. Her instructor describes her as a no-nonsense leader who keeps the shop running smoothly, guiding and supporting her peers and stepping in to course-correct when needed. Her meticulous organization ensures that every tool, job, and process stays in order so the shop runs efficiently.

Shanna manages and runs the entire GR Motorsports shop and later brought Juno on as an automotive mechanic apprentice. Together, they work side by side, Shanna running operations and Juno working on cars and motorcycles, growing her skills every day. Juno has already started the process of joining the Naval Academy in Annapolis and plans to pursue her dream of becoming a nuclear physicist.

But Juno is more than her achievements. She loves dirt bikes, cars, motorcycles, and spending time at the track on race days. She enjoys boba runs with her friends and family, and she absolutely loves her dog, Diamond. Juno plans and hand-prepares every one of Diamond’s meals, writing the ingredients on a whiteboard to make sure they are done just right. It’s one of the many ways she shows how much she cares.

Juno is magnetic and free-spirited, someone who makes an impression the moment you meet her. She inspires the people around her by simply being herself. Her faith is also an important part of her life. Every Sunday, she attends Holy Family Church with her mom, her uncle Korey, and occasionally her grandpa Kevin, whose own mother once attended the same church.

Now it’s our turn to rally for her. Her parents, Shanna LeRoy and Lenny Mitchell, are at her side every moment, but the weight of medical bills, rent, and daily expenses grows heavier each day.

We are asking for your support to help Juno and her family through this battle. Every donation goes directly toward her care, her recovery, and the many expenses: medical, personal, and day-to-day that allow her family to stay strong and by her bedside during this critical time.

Juno is a fighter. She is unstoppable. Together, we can surround her with love and give her the best chance at recovery.