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			TRAVIS

Tell us what you think about TRAVIS.

Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly and join the discussion.

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04/13/2009

Richard Kotuk truly did some beautiful work, but I have a question regarding another of his works shown on PBS in the 80s. Children of Darkness illustrated the problems at the time with the way society dealt with the most profoundly mentally ill among us. My brother was one of the subjects of that film, and recalling seeing my mother talk about him at that time was an unbearably difficult yet amazingly beautiful thing. My brother's emotional state, if not his functional ability, has improved tremendously since that time. But in the passage of those years, I have lost both the one copy of the film I had, as well as our mother, and have had no luck locating any resource to find another copy. Is there somewhere that I might be able to find one? Thank you immeasurably. Kevin

01/02/2009

Travis, we often go through life not recognizing a true miracle. We think that it is something we should witness only with our eyes. A mirical is whole, it shakes you to the core, both inside and out. It touches your mind, soul, and spirit. You were put here to bring inspiration and work many wonders. By you being here you have brought inspiration, touch millions of hearts, lives, and minds as no spirit has before you. You are a true blessing and gift to this world. You are perfect. Thank you Travis for you being you. Blessing to you Travis, you are our teacher and we contiune to grow and learn from you. Our hearts and prayers are always with you. You may not know this, but you are my child too. You are greatly loved.

04/04/2006
Jannette
Kansas City Missouri

I taped the "Travis" PBS series about 3 years ago. Each time I show this video to my Science Class, I am touched by the utter humanity of this documentary. It's so real and dignified. No exploitation. Mr. Kotuk did an extrodinary job showing real life about an issue that is ravenging this planet. Travis - what can I say? You are mightly blessed. What a testimony. When most young people were and are concerned about the mundane and sometimes trite and trivial issues, you were and are fighting. Many blessings to your grandmother for her love and support. WOW!!!! God Bless both families. You have helped so many of my students gain perspective. I would love to meet you in person. Travis, I'd love to see you graduate. I am sure Mr. Kotuk and family is proud. Keep living life strong. God Bless. Jannette Teacher Kansas City

01/31/2006
maggie Kotuk
new york, new york

Dear Friends of Travis, I just finished reading all your emails having to do with my late brother Richard's film TRAVIS. I was brought to tears. Travis has spent the last two summers with me i on the farm. I wasn't sure I was ready to have a teenager for a whole summer but the last two with Travis were probably the best summers of my life! He got a job right away pumping gas at a local gas/bait/tackle shop/station (he hated having to pick up the eels! ) . We spent evenings, cooking meals, baking my famous oatmeal cookies and devouring them, telling jokes...having serious conversations about girls and how complicated that can get!!!! Gee, I remember saying over and over..." Hey, Travis, you know there are plenty of fish in the sea." He discovered what I meant soon enough and decided to take his time getting to know those beauties first before throwing his heart over the fence. The second summer, Travis took his old job at the gas station and started writing music ... One of the first ones he wrote and sang for me was about his grandmother. Oh how I cried ! What beautiful lyrics and so soulful. Travis will graduate from Humanities High School this June. What a celebration we will all have! Thank you again for your beautiful thoughts. With love, Maggie

11/29/2005
bn_lv

hi i say the video in my health class today and in was so nice to know that he is keeping strong and i wish i could talk to him and tell him i really care and we would both be the same age know and i look back and i say when i was 7 years he was 7 years old and when i was out side playing with my friends winter and summer he was in pain not knowing why and that make me sad but i held my tears in so we are both 17 years old i wish i could have some one so strong as a friend so travis if you see this you shold e mail me to let me know you read it i would feel a lot better and remember that it is hard some times to feel different from people when you cant do every thing they coa but you are the strongest and cutest boy i know

04/13/2005
Shante Witherspoon
gtharp@mpls.k12.mn.us
minneapolis

Hi Travis my name is shante Witherspoon and i'm 14 years old I think you are strong and me and one of my best friends Pashion think you are strong enough to make it to see your twenty-first birthday and we wish you the best of luck and happy seven-teenth birthday hopefully we will get to write you very soon good by travis write you soon

02/18/2005
Aisha Bonner
A25isha@yahoo.com
VA

I say Travis story in graduate school and it touched my heart. Everyone in our class became re-educated about the realities of AIDS. I am so please that Travis is doing well, but I would love to hear an update if he doesn't mind. God Bless You Travis.

11/26/2004
Dawn
Cincinnati/Ohio

I watched the documentary about Travis Jefferies in 1998. I watch it every single year & share it with others(I taped it). I fell in love with that precious little boy. I am so pleased that he is now 17! With all that he went through, if he can still keep smiling, surely the rest of us can. Many of our problems pale in comparison to his. I want updates about him and I am glad I found a venue to do so. He is inspiring and I feel so blessed to know of his story.

10/11/2004
michal fogel

israel

i was never touchd by a little boy as i was touchd by travis.

10/04/2004

Travis's story is a highlight of my pediatric psychology course each semester. Please advise on his current status and situation as soon as possible. Thanks. Don

05/27/2004
Ana & Dominique
lil_jab3000@yahoo.com
Pa

I cried when i saw this movie.

04/29/2004
Kim Hopkins
Englewood, FL

I am a health teacher in Englewood, FL at Lemon Bay High School. This past week I showed all of my students the documentary on Travis. They were extremely receptive and moved by this courageous young man's struggles and how he was so optimistic about leading a normal life. It is films like these that bring such an important "reality" to issues such as AIDS, and allows these students to truly appreciate how simple their life really is. I thank Richard Kotuk for sharing Travis' story with us. I will be checking back periodically looking for more recent news on Travis' condition. Sincerely, Kim Hopkins Englewood, FL

04/28/2004
Danielle Luce
devil_baby9_11_01@myway.com
Punta Gorda, Florida

I recently watched the movie "Travis" in my eighth grade science class for a study on STD's. I was deeply touched by the courage that young boy showed. I was just wondering if you could possibly post another update. I know his grandmother died in 1999, but I would like to know how he is doing. If you would like to email me i posted my email address on here,too.thank you.

01/21/2004
Sonya F.
Boston, MA

I am a graduate student in Boston, MA and I recently was part of a group presentation on children with AIDS. We showed "Travis" to our audience and it made such powerful impact on everyone. Hearing about Travis made finding a cure for this epidemic a personal crusade for everyone. Thank you Travis for allowing the world to hear your story. Our hearts and prayers are with you. God Bless.

My mother just died March 1st 1999, She had the AIDS virus, she caught it from a boyfriend, it wasn't that she was taking drugs or anything like that she just caught it off a person, she didn't tell anyone that she had the AIDS virus till she got so bad that she had to go to the hospital. Which was January 31, 1999. My mother and I were really close and I was sad because she didn't tell me. I was so upset but she is now in a better place. I wanted an update on Travis and his family a recent update I want to know if he is doing better and especially his grandmother which took care of him and stuck by him through thick and thin. I saw at the end of the show that Travis was being taken care of by his aunt and uncle and that his grandmother has cancer and I would like to know more and I would like you to play that movie more it was the best movie I have ever seen.

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