Keeping Up with Travis

Now a college freshman, Travis stays busy through his battle with NF1

In the spring of 2023, Travis and his family flew to Washington from their home near Salt Lake City. They had made the flight many times before, but this time was different. Instead of flying in for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) treatment at the National Institutes of Health, Travis was going to be featured at The Children’s Inn at NIH’s annual Evening for Hope gala.

Standing in front of a ballroom of hundreds of smartly-attired guests, Travis, then a high school sophomore, captured the attention of everyone in the room with his story of “Doing More, Not Less” despite overwhelming obstacles in his way throughout his life. As he wrapped up his remarks, he and his parents, Kelly and Scott, received a standing ovation to highlight an evening that raised over $2 million for The Inn.

In the years since, Travis has been keeping busy. Last spring, he graduated from Highland High School, and was nominated for the Spirit of Highland Award. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and is now a freshman at the University of Utah, which he can commute to from his home.

Travis on campus at the University of Utah

In addition, since 2023, Travis has been a part of the Utah Rush competitive wheelchair basketball team. After playing a reserve role in his first season, which saw the Rush advance to the West Coast championship game, Travis became a starter for the team in 2024. A strong defensive player, he helped the team win the West Coast title and earn a No. 5 ranking nationally.

“It’s really fun to see him grow and mature and just do so much more,” said Kelly. “He practices at home, and he has improved, particularly his offensive game, so much since he joined the team.”

Travis is doing all this while continuing to take part in a clinical trial through the National Cancer Institute to treat NF1, a medical disorder that involves the development of tumors that affect the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that send signals to all parts of the body. Just as he has kept himself busy, Travis has kept his doctors busy with several NF1-related incidents.

Not long before speaking at An Evening for Hope, Travis had a benign tumor removed. The tumors caused by the NF1 can wrap themselves around his bones and make them brittle and more susceptible to damage. Such was the case with his left femur, which fractured three times before Travis made the difficult decision to have his left leg amputated and donated to science.

Refusing to give up his active lifestyle, Travis has gotten used to the threat of bone fractures. In fact, they have become so commonplace for Travis that twice he broke his pelvis without even realizing it. The first time happened in early 2024. It was discovered not long after his first season with the Rush and fortunately, it was already well on its way to healing properly. Travis and his family speculate it happened during a particularly physical interaction on the basketball court.  Still by the time doctors informed him of the break, no one could say for sure.

Even more mysterious was the following incident in November 2024. Again, the fracture was discovered after the bone had already healed. Although Travis has never been one to shy away from physical challenges, this time he, and his family have no clue what may have led to the second pelvic fracture.

Travis (center) and the Utah Rush

Travis has so much on his plate that he often isn’t able to attend every activity he wants to attend. His dedication to the Rush has, partially, led to a reduction in his role with J.R. Smith Racing’s Team Fight Cancer, though he still serves as a crew chief when he can. “He’s made enough hard choices in his life,” Kelly explained. “Now, if he has to make a hard choice, it’s better that he’s choosing between two fun things.”

At the University of Utah, Travis is pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with a Sports and Community emphasis. After keeping the stats for his high school football team, he has made connections with the Utes’ athletic department and wants to pursue a career in sports statistics.

He and his family still make regular trips to The Inn for his participation in the clinical trial, as he has for over a decade. After traumatic rounds of treatment in his young childhood, his visits to The Inn helped remove the fear and anxiety over medical treatments, allowing him to be a kid while still having easy access to his medical team. Looking back, with her son now enrolled in college and thriving, Kelly credited The Inn with helping shape the positive, active attitude that Travis has demonstrated as he has grown up.

“He would not be here if not for the clinical trial and The Children’s Inn, period,” Kelly said. “Now, school is clicking better, sports are clicking better, he’s getting stronger, and he’s always up for an adventure.”

Travis was so busy we didn’t even mention that the Stanley Cup came to visit him at his house.