King Travis

Travis is named Prom King and becomes the happiest boy in the world!

When Travis was four years old, he became having major strokes. The doctors diagnosed him with a very rare disease called Mitochondrial Encephalopathy Lactic Acidosis with Stroke-like Episodes (MELAS). For his mother, Kristine McCullough, this diagnosis "was like being stabbed in the heart over and over." It was the worst day of her life.

This rare disease has caused Travis to have seizures, Neuropathy, myopathy, in inability to control his body temperature, and left him mentally challenged with Autistic tendencies. Travis had to learn to walk and talk all over again after the strokes occurred.

Travis grew up in the Midlothian (Texas) school district and was in a special needs class to help him learn better. Through the years, he became friends with everyone he came in contact with. As Travis moved through elementary school to high school, he stole the hearts of his classmates. Travis was able to enter each grade with the rest of his peers and after high school entered a special college program.

Travis's senior year of high school, however, was his best year!! As the kids in his class searched to find their prom king and queen, someone suggested Travis and the idea spread. "Never in my wildest dreams," said Kristine, "did I think my son, who has strugged with a horrible disease his whole life, would be one of the nominees in the 2009 Prom selection!"

Later, Travis's family would learn of another miracle. The other nominees for Prom King actually campaigned to have Travis crowned king. "We were so humbled and amazed. I thought about these young men doing this for Travis and felt so grateful to have such wonderful people around my son."

A local television station followed Travis on his journey to become king, "and to this day, Travis will watch the video as often as I will let him and runs around the house yelling, 'I'm the king'!"

As parents of a disabled child, both Kristine and her husband, Danny, have always worried how the kids would treat Travis. They could not force people to understand or like him. Travis took care of that. His indominable spirit allows him to make friends everywhere he goes.

But the day Travis became king was not just an important day for him. "Truly, this was one of the best days in my life. Not only did I get to see my son crowned Prom King but I also got to go to the prom. I had never been to the prom, nor had my husband. Travis and his classmates gave Danny and me our first date to prom and we can never thank them enough!"