Austin Mardon and his wife, Catherine, have a remarkable life, marked by their struggles with mental health and disability. The couple has dedicated their lives and marriage to mental health advocacy and education, sharing their story through writing in local publications. Catherine, a lawyer and social justice advocate, was stabbed 17 times and left for dead in 1991 after testifying in court against a white supremacist group in the U.S. Midwest.
Catherine sustained a traumatic brain injury in the attack but also left her assailant with broken teeth. She was one of the first lawyers in Oklahoma City to take on AIDS patients as clients, at a time when many firms wouldn’t. Her advocacy has spanned issues from disability rights to access to justice, earning her recognition across North America, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals.
Austin Mardon, a celebrated scientist and mental health advocate, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in early adulthood. He defied expectations by becoming a public figure and tireless advocate for those living with mental illness. While in his twenties, he suffered severe frostbite on a NASA-funded research expedition to Antarctica in 1986–87, where he became the first Canadian to discover a moon-origin meteorite.
The Mardons have opened their home to over a dozen children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), legally adopting one of them. Many of these children arrived with significant behavioural and medical needs. Catherine first encountered FAS while still in college, when she took in her nephew who was born with the condition. The couple’s commitment to their foster children has been unwavering, with the children knowing they are always remembered on Christmas and birthdays.
The couple co-authors books for adults and children, often drawing from their work with the mentally ill and socially marginalized. Their children’s stories follow the adventures of a basset hound named Gandy. The couple gave a copy of Gandy and the Man in White, a story about the dog’s visit to Rome, to Pope Francis during their 2019 audience.
The Mardons’ partnership is grounded in both faith and service. They are Knight and Dame Commanders in the Order of St. Sylvester—the highest papal honour a layperson can receive. Their Catholic faith is deeply interwoven with their life’s work, especially in the realm of mental health. Schizophrenia carries a high risk of suicide, homelessness, and substance abuse, but the Mardons have chosen to face this challenge in their own home.
The couple’s marriage has been a remarkable journey of faith and advocacy, inspiring others with their story. Despite initial skepticism about their marriage due to their mental health conditions, they have proven to be a testament to the power of commitment and faith. Their work continues to inspire others, and their legacy is a reminder that two half-wounded people can make a better whole.
Key points
- The Mardons have dedicated their lives to mental health advocacy and education.
- The couple has opened their home to over a dozen children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
- Their Catholic faith is deeply interwoven with their life’s work, especially in the realm of mental health.
