Life in the public eye is weird. One minute you're the child star everyone remembers from Desperate Housewives, and the next, you're navigating the heavy, complicated realities of adulthood while the whole world watches. That’s basically been the reality for Madison De La Garza. While most people still associate her with the pigtails and sass of Juanita Solis, her life today is defined by much deeper, more personal milestones—specifically her relationship with actor Ryan Mitchell.
If you’ve been following the headlines, you know their story hasn't been a fairytale. It’s been a raw, public lesson in grief and resilience.
Who Exactly is Ryan Mitchell?
Honestly, before he was linked to Madison, a lot of people weren't entirely sure who Ryan was. He isn't some mega-star hovering on the A-list, but he’s a working actor who has quietly built a solid resume. He’s appeared in soaps like The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless. He even had a small "bus boy" role in Man of Steel years back.
He and Madison went public with their relationship in the summer of 2024. It wasn't some massive red-carpet debut. Instead, it was a simple Instagram post in June where Madison called him her "whole world."
They seemed happy. Like, actually happy. Not "PR-stunt" happy.
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The Pregnancy That Changed Everything
By September 2024, the couple shared some news that sent the internet into a bit of a tailspin: they were expecting. Madison was 22 at the time. The photos were beautiful—Madison in a floral dress, Ryan looking absolutely smitten. She even captioned it with a note to him, saying he was making all her dreams come true.
The due date was set for October 2024. Even Demi Lovato, Madison’s older sister, was all over the comments, clearly stoked to become an aunt. It felt like the start of a really beautiful new chapter for the De La Garza-Mitchell family.
The Heartbreak of September 27
Things took a devastating turn. On October 26, 2024, after about a month of silence on social media, Madison posted a text block that broke everyone's heart. She revealed that on September 27, she had undergone an emergency C-section.
Their daughter, Xiomara, didn't survive.
"Ryan and I held our little girl for the first time and last time," she wrote. It’s the kind of sentence that makes you stop breathing for a second. To go from the high of a pregnancy announcement to the absolute bottom of infant loss in just a few weeks is a level of trauma most of us can't even fathom.
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How They’ve Handled the Aftermath
Grief is messy. It’s not a straight line. But Ryan Mitchell and Madison De La Garza have been remarkably open about how they’re moving through it.
- Public Tributes: Madison has used her platform to keep Xiomara’s memory alive.
- The "XO" Tattoo: In April 2025, Madison shared a photo of a new tattoo on her palm. It’s a simple "XO" with a heart—a permanent nod to her daughter.
- Family Support: The Lovato/De La Garza family has clearly circled the wagons. Demi has been vocal about her love for "Auntie’s angel," and their mom, Dianna, has been a pillar of support.
Ryan has mostly stayed in the background, playing the role of the supportive partner. It’s clear he’s her rock. You don’t get through something like that without a serious foundation.
Looking Toward the Future: Directing and Beyond
It would be easy to let a tragedy like that define you forever. But Madison is a creator at heart. By late 2025, news broke that she was making her directorial debut with a horror film called Sara Sarita.
It’s an interesting move. The film is inspired by Mexican folklore and actually features one of the final performances from the late Michael Madsen. This shift from child actor to director feels like a natural evolution for her. She’s taking control of the narrative, literally and figuratively.
As for Ryan Mitchell and Madison De La Garza as a couple, they’ve proven they can withstand the worst life can throw at them. In a town like Hollywood, where relationships often crumble under the slightest pressure, their bond seems forged in something much stronger.
Practical Steps for Supporting Those in Grief
If you’ve followed this story because you’ve experienced something similar, or you know someone who has, here are a few ways to navigate the heavy lifting of pregnancy loss:
- Acknowledge the loss directly. Don't ignore it because it's "uncomfortable." Use the baby's name if they had one.
- Avoid "at least" statements. "At least you can have another" or "At least it happened early" are well-intentioned but often incredibly hurtful.
- Check in months later. The initial wave of support usually fades after a few weeks, but the grief stays. A text six months later means more than one on day three.
- Look into professional resources. Organizations like Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support offer communities for those who feel isolated in their pain.
Madison and Ryan’s journey isn't just a "celeb news" item. It’s a very human story about love, loss, and the slow, painful process of putting yourself back together. They’re doing it with a level of grace that’s honestly pretty inspiring.
To support someone going through infant loss, offer specific help—like bringing a meal or running an errand—rather than saying "let me know if you need anything," which puts the burden of asking on the grieving person.