By Becky Maxedon

Most people create bucket lists throughout their life, hoping to fulfill at least some of their dreams.

One Lake Havasu City teen was able to check off one big accomplishment on his list the Monday following the Lake Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair that took place Jan. 9-12.

Titus Strawn was diagnosed with craniosynostosis when he was 3 months old, his mother Keri Strawn said.

“The front suture line of his skull was prematurely fused and would not allow movement of the skull for his brain to grow. He had the front part of his skull reconstructed when he was a year old,” she said.

The procedure released a lot of pressure on the front part of the brain as it was being crushed, which unfortunately, created brain damage.

“At first, doctors said by the time he was 5, he should catch up on most things. This did not happen. Progress was slow on many cognitive functions,” Strawn said.

And if all that wasn’t enough, through this process, the family also discovered Titus has a rare chromosome disorder – partial deletion of 19.

“There is only one other person on the planet that we know of with the same deletion, but he also has 14 deleted which causes him to be completely wheelchair bound. So, this was no help to us,” she said.

Titus started therapy when he was 15 months old and continues today. The first seven years of his life were spent seeing multiple specialists at the Barrows Institute and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

“It was scary and exhausting. We prayed, prayed and prayed some more. Through much prayer, family support, wonderful, hardworking therapists, DDD coordinators, teachers, and respite providers, Titus has blossomed into an amazing 17-year-old,” Strawn said.

Titus functions at about a 5-6-year-old level. His mom says he is highly social, super fun and loves people.

“He is non-verbal, but not non-vocal. He gets his point across, loudly,” she said.

Titus has two obsessions – Jesse Pruett, the worship leader at Calvary Baptist, and hot air balloons.

Titus Strawn poses with his friend and Calvary Baptist Church Praise and Worship Leader Jesse Pruett at Night to Shine. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“His love for hot air balloons started when he was about 7 or 8 years old. It has only intensified over the years. Thankfully, he has been able to volunteer at the balloon festival for the last few years, and it is literally the highlight of the year for him,” Strawn said.

Last year, Titus went on his first tethered balloon ride. “It was pretty scary for him, but he was so very excited and did great. He has a lot of fear to do new things because he doesn’t understand how things work,” she said.

At this year’s event, though, Titus was treated to the real thing.

“It is literally the biggest dream of his life. If he understood what a bucket list was, this would be the only thing on his bucket list. I’m so very proud of him. He wasn’t scared at all,” Strawn said.

Tori Cavanaugh is a caregiver at Lake Havasu City’s Milemarkers, locally owned and operated by therapists providing services for those with special needs.

“Titus’s love for hot air balloons started when he was just a little kid. He would run outside just to see them up in the air,” Cavanaugh said.

Titus, his mom and his sister at the 2015 Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair. Photo courtesy Keri Strawn

He went to the balloon festival every year and when he got old enough, he began volunteering.

“After he had the tethered ride, he spent the next year telling me he wanted ‘to go up’ meaning he wanted to go up on an untethered ride,” she said.

With the help of Titus’s family, RiverScene publisher Jillian Danielson and Illinois balloon pilots Dave and Kathy Reinke, when the moment came for the actual flight, Titus chose Cavanaugh to go up with him.

“Titus was full of smiles and excitement. He helped get the balloon out of the bag and up in the air. Once in the balloon, you see the excitement on his face as his dream was coming true,” Cavanaugh said.

“The whole time we were in the air, he was pointing at all the things he was seeing. You could see the joy all over his face,” she said.

“I have always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon and Titus warmed my heart by wanting me to join him on his adventure.”

Kathy Reineke, Titus Strawn, and Tori Cavanaugh wave from “Sunsational” in the air to pilot Gary Moore. Photo courtesy Gary Moore.

Balloon pilot Kathy Reinike said, “It was very special for me to take Titus for his first balloon ride of Lake Havasu. I loved it. It was a great experience.”

Titus’s dad Scott crewed with him before liftoff and was in the chase van along his flight path. He talked to Titus via radio throughout the adventure.

“Being a parent of a special needs child can be a very lonely scary road. But God is so faithful. Do not ever underestimate your special child. They may have disabilities, but there’s so much that they can still enjoy and do in life.

“Even if it looks a little different than how other children would enjoy that same activity. I’m so thankful that God has brought such wonderful people into my son’s life to encourage him to step out of his comfort zone and try new things,” Strawn said.

Kathy Reineke, Titus Strawn, and Tori Cavanaugh pose for a photo in a hot air balloon Friday morning.Photo courtesy Kathy Reineke.

Titus Strawn poses for a photo in front of a hot air balloon basket. Phone photo Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Titus Strawn poses for a photo with pilots Dave and Kathy Reineke, Tori Cavanaugh, and balloon crew before take off. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Dave Reineke teachers Titus Strawn how to crew for a hot air balloon before his flight. Photo photo Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Titus and his dad Scott Strawn crew for Dave and Kathy Reineke’s balloon Friday morning. Phone photo Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Titus Strawn and Tori Cavanaugh wave as they lift off in their first hot air balloon ride. Photo photo Jillian Danielson

A view from Titus Strawn’s first hot air balloon ride over Lake Havasu City. Photo courtesy Kathy Reineke

Titus Strawn signs the banner on the side of Kathy and Dave Reineke’s balloon basket Friday morning. Photo courtesy Kathy Reineke