Boy Who Changed Health Care in Utah Has Passed Away

Tonya Papanikolas ReportingA West Haven family lost their son right before Christmas. Even though the boy was only 14 years old, he played a part in shaping health care policy in Utah.

Fourteen-year-old Travis Carlson was born deaf and blind and breathed through a tube inserted in his windpipe, but his family has always made sure he enjoyed life. Last week Travis played the cymbals in a high school concert. It's a special memory his family is cherishing since Travis died just days later.

Derek Carlson, Father: "His airway was compromised and his lungs could no longer function."

Though it's been hard, Travis' mother says she's happy her son is free from his bodily limitations.

Stephanie Carlson, Travis' Mother: "There is no better gift I could have given to my son for Christmas than the ability to see and hear and run again."

Carlson is also proud of the legacy her son has left behind. Twelve years ago Medicaid would only pay for Travis' care if the family made a low income.

Stephanie Carlson: "We had to live in poverty, about 18-thousand dollars a year."

So Stephanie took Travis before the state legislature to tell their story and within the year Utah's congressmen set aside money that eventually helped 125 families like theirs.

Stephanie Carlson: "Everything that his life stood for was in helping someone else."

Derek Carlson: "He had a purpose in his life and he was striving to make the world a better place."

Shortly after, the Carlsons were invited to speak to Hilary Clinton and the U.S. Senate about health care reform. Though the family feels more improvements are necessary, they are happy their son played a part.

Travis was an organ donor. Even though he was blind, his corneas worked fine; they will give the gift of sight to someone else.

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