
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. :)