Johnny Bravo

I want to take this time to talk a little bit about one of my heroes. 

When he was born in Kansas, he looked like an indian baby – dark hair and dark skin. By the time he was two, he had bleach blonde hair and the most charming blue eyes that could win over the hearts of any girl who had the pleasure of spending time with him. At the ripe age of three, he moved all the way across the country to Virginia to start a new chapter with his family.

He went through school, as most kids do, normally until second grade. It was on a cool October night of this year that would change his life forever. On October 18^th, while he was sleeping, his throat closed up. His body started shaking uncontrollably. He lost control of his motor skills. He was helpless. His parents heard him in the night and came to his bedside at the end of the seizure. The following night, he would have another seizure. This time the ambulance was called and his parents waited to learn what was torturing their son.

It was a cyst. A cyst about the size of a golf ball had made it’s home in a seven year old boy’s brain. A benign cyst in his left frontal lobe would be the cause of dozens and dozens of medications, seizures every morning, evening, and night, CAT scans, PET scans, IV’s and numerous trips to the hospital. Almost exactly one year later, they decided to operate. When he had to shave off his hair, his dad did it with him. Brain surgery for anyone is terrifying, but this boy faced it with humor and courage.

The surgery was successful.

Post-operation, he recovered well. He came home from the hospital on Halloween day and was toted around in a wagon dressed as Anakin Skywalker. Today, he jokes that in place of the tumor, they inserted a “giggle-chip” in his brain because there were moments when he could not stop laughing at the smallest things. There was not a second during any of his stays in the hospital when he complained of the food, flinched at a needle, or worried about what might happen. The following years, his medications dwindled, the seizures were gone and he grew into a talented, bright young man.

Last spring, they came back. He had made it to his junior year of high school almost entirely seizure-free (except for a rare blip). And this time they were different. And again, he bore confidence and a care-free attitude. They are now controlled by a new medicine, the doctors said it's just scar tissue and no new growth.

Not only is he incredibly brave, but he has an incredibly big heart. He is one of the most selfless people I know. He is committed to progressing the world around him through the activities he is involved in at school and leading by example throughout his community. He is an accomplished musician, he has the most beautiful mind, he is the leader of his drum line, a quarter of a barbershop quartet, a soon-to-be-Jayhawk, a friend, a son, and a brother. He’s my brother.

Jansen Wooton is 17 years old. It’s been ten years since he was thrown into this adventure and while he did not deserve a lick of it, I don’t know who could have handled it better. He’s been my constant in every way even all the way from Virginia, and I can’t begin to explain how thrilled I am to have him join me at KU next year. Jansen is my brother & he is my best friend. He is my laughter & my comfort, my stability & my spontaneity, I’m the artist & he is the musician, “ginger” & “johnny bravo”, he’s 1,100 miles away & there’s currently 114 days till he starts school here with me. 

A week or so ago, Jansen came out to visit me from Virginia on his spring break. He decided during that week that he will be majoring in Architecture at KU next year (he already knew he'd be a Jayhawk...he didn't even bother applying anywhere else!). 

My platform is called "More Than What You See". When people see my brother with me, they either think we're dating (because we get along so well) or they think we're twins. We are not either of those things. If you could see him when he's alone, you would see that he always has a project he is working on, or that he writes beautiful music, or that he's a normal teenager who sleeps in too late. When you see him in his element, you can see that he is a leader, that he has drive and passion, or that he is humorous and curious and kind. But what you don't see is his story. 

"When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them."

- Annika Wooton

Miss Butler County 2014