An 18-month-old barely survived a Texas fire that burned 84% of his body. Then, 16 years later, he achieved this coveted crown

At Tarkington High School in Texas, sixteen years after he was severely burned in a fire, Dylan Mills achieved a major milestone. Standing beneath the stadium lights, he received one of high school’s most prestigious honors. This moment followed a childhood battle for life after the tragic incident he endured as a toddler.

“As a baby, Dylan Mills survived a fire that left burns across 84% of his tiny body,” FOX San Antonio reporter Ryan Wolf explained in a viral post. “Sixteen years later, under the stadium lights in Cleveland, TX, those scars shimmered alongside his sequined jacket as he was crowned Homecoming King.”

The 2009 fire

Back in 2009, tragedy nearly claimed Dylan’s life. At just 18 months old, he was trapped in his family’s burning home when flames tore through the structure. His father suffered serious burns trying to rescue him, while his mother pulled the toddler to safety. Local station KHOU-11 covered the blaze that year, reporting a northeast Houston house fire that hospitalized multiple family members.

The recovery that followed was long and grueling. Doctors told the family that Dylan had sustained burns to approximately 84% of his body. Years of skin grafts, surgeries, and rehabilitation followed. Yet, against all odds, Dylan not only survived the fire but thrived — learning to play sports, returning to school, and embracing a life that many once feared he wouldn’t live to see.

“Today, he plays baseball and basketball, greets life with a smile, and inspires his entire community with his resilience,” Wolf added in his post. “A living reminder that miracles are real and beauty is deeper than skin.”

Now king and queen, Mills and Primeaux have been friends for life

Wolf’s post gained tens of thousands of likes and shares. Photos showed Dylan standing beside his close friend and classmate Ashlyn Primeaux, who was crowned Homecoming Queen. Their pairing, it turns out, wasn’t just a coincidence: It was years in the making.

“I’m Ashlyn’s mom, and she and Dylan have been best friends since they were 4 years old,” her mother commented on Wolf’s post. “They were in the same kindergarten class, went through 8th grade promotion together, even went to prom one year together—so running for king and queen was just another milestone they shared. These two kids are some of the most kindhearted and genuine people you’ll ever meet.” According to Primeaux’s mom, Mills and her daughter ran for homecoming just for fun, and winning was “a bonus.”

For the Tarkington ISD community, Dylan’s crowning moment was more than a high-school tradition — it was the embodiment of perseverance, friendship, and grace. Another comment on Wolf’s post added in part, “Now these are the stories I like to see. With a world full of negativity, it’s nice to see a young man with such grit be honored by his classmates.”