Call me Mighty Mouse. 

That's what I am.  I'm tiny, but I'm mighty!  And once you see me, you'll know why I say this.

My name's Travis.  I am nine years old but look more like five.  I'm really little.  I was born with dwarfism, which simply means I have an average sized body, but little arms and legs.  Because of this, I'm short; I will always be short, even when I get to be a grownup.

My parents were sad that I was born like this.  They knew I would never be able to play most sports, including my favorite, football.  That makes me sad, but I can still go to the games and cheer for my favorite team, which is the Dallas Cowboys.  (I live in Dallas, Texas, by the way.) 

I went to the game last week, when they won.  They played like champions.  I was so excited I couldn't keep still; I kept bouncing in my wheelchair like a jumping jack.  Up and down!  Up and down!  LOL  (I can walk; for longer trips, I use a wheelchair 'coz my little legs get tired if I do too much walking around.)  It was a special day!

I have a very nice family.  I have my mom, my dad, and my big sister, Cryssa, who is 13, and my "little" sister, Kellie, who is six--and taller than me!!  It's really weird having a little sister who is bigger than me! 

I'm the only one in my family who was born with dwarfism.  Nobody knows why, but it happened, so I might as well learn to make the best of it.  And I have. 

At school, I have to use a little-kid's desk and chair.  The regular kids' desks and chairs are way too big for me.  I also have to have a footstool I can rest my legs on or they'll get tired or numb.  If I tried to get up with my numb legs or feet, I'd fall flat on my face; don't want to do that, so I use the stool, so I can prop my legs/feet up.

Sometimes the other kids make fun of me.  I don't like that, but they soon learn that I can do anything I set my mind to; I just do things a little differently.  Other than my being littler than average, I'm just like any other nine-year-old:  I love to play video games, play on the computer, draw, read, play baseball and tennis, and swim.  I also love to ride my specially-built bike.  I am a very active, happy little boy.

Well, daddy's ordered pizza, so I am going to run.  I can't wait; there's nothing more tastier than just-ordered, piping-hot pizza!!  Yumm!!  I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!!  I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Travis saying so long!  God bless!

~Love, your new pal, Travis Keith Betancourt.  :)