I wish to have a drag queen sweet sixteen party
Travi, 16
kidney transplant
When Travi was 12 years old, she went to the doctor after experiencing inflammation in both of her eyes, where she was given eye drops to ease the pain. She soon began experiencing harsh vomiting and fevers. Travi’s mother, Tracy, rushed her to the hospital where blood test results confirmed that something was wrong. After about one month of intensive testing, Travi was sadly diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. She remained in the intensive care unit for a week due to fluid build-up in her lungs. Travi began an exhausting medical journey of dialysis, numerous biopsies, blood transfusions, a Peritoneum port surgery, and a central line procedure. Feelings of stress and uncertainty amplified as the family’s everyday life oriented around Travi’s diagnosis. Thankfully, two years later, the family received relieving news that Travi was getting a kidney transplant. The surgery was a success, and she is now on anti-rejection medication, attending regular check-ups to make sure she is healing well.
Travi, who is autistic and deaf, uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. However, that did not hinder her envisioned wish. She wanted to celebrate her sweet sixteenth birthday with a drag queen-themed birthday party. Arriving in a luxurious pink Porsche with a pink boa, pink dress, and tiara, Travi truly made a grand entrance in front of all her guests. The venue was adorned with pink balloons and twinkling lights, yet nothing quite shined like Travi. Every element of the party was a dream come true – from the nail and makeup display to the photobooth, karaoke machine, and cute mocktail bar. Amidst the glitz and glamour, nothing compared to the moment the drag queen stepped on the dance floor. They brimmed with an energy that truly brought Travi’s wish to life.
Surrounded by everything pink, guests with bejeweled faces, and the vibrant energy of the drag queen, Travi was at the heart of a truly unforgettable sweet sixteen. “Travi has not stopped talking about the drag queen from the party,” expressed Tracy. “She was very impressive, really opening up to dancing and hanging with friends! Going forward, we have been proudly pushing forward past the boundaries we had before us.” One wish offered special moments where Travi found herself in the spotlight for reasons beyond her illness. It was a time when the focus wasn’t on her as a patient undergoing treatment, but rather as a girl stepping into a new chapter of life.
Travi’s wish
