CENTRE HALL — It’s been a tough few years for the Kenton and Elizabeth Bressler family of Rebersburg. Not moreso, though, than for 6-year-old Kaelynn, who, in June of 2019, was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer, Osteosarcoma.
After a year-long battle with the disease, Kaelynn is now cancer free for more than a year.
Recognizing the family’s hardships, Jersey Shore State Bank has donated tent space to the Bresslers, allowing for some time away from the challenges of life and to just enjoy being at the fair.
It is a tradition for many in the Centre County area to attend the Grange Fair each summer. The reservations for these tent spots are coveted by families and passed down from generation to generation. Every year there is a waiting list to acquire one of these campsites for the duration of the fair.
For the last several years as a Gold Sponsor of the Grange Fair, JSSB has donated a tent space to a family that could use time away.
The Bresslers including Kaelynn, will be joined by 9-year-old Kylie and 3-year-old Kennedy for the mini-vacation.
The Bresslers discovered the incident when Kaelynn developed swelling around her knee and a slight limp in her gait. X-rays revealed she had a fracture, but it also showed a dark shadow, indicating a present mass. Further testing confirmed the cancer and need for surgery and chemotherapy.
As she went through treatments, and Kaelynn’s hair began to fall out, her parents and big sister Kylie shaved their heads to show she wasn’t going through it on her own.
Unexpected news then struck when doctors told the Bresslers that Kylie’s leg need to be amputated.
They traveled to Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia for a unique rotationplasty surgery procedure. The successful operation removed all of her cancer and her foot and part of her leg were rotated 180 degrees and reattached to her thigh. This allowed her a working joint as her heel/ankle now work as a knee join as opposed to not having a joint.
Hardships ensued as she recovered, including another surgery to promote bone growth and multiple hospital stays due to low blood counts, blood transfusions and other setbacks.
Her chemo treatments were completed in March of 2020. According to mom Elizabeth, Kaelynn has been walking with a prosthetic and “living life to the fullest.”
According to a press release by JSSB, the family’s favorite part of the fair is viewing the animals, but they also enjoy the games and rides. Cheesecake on a stick is Kaelynn’s favorite.
Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Jersey Shore State Bank and Luzerne Bank. The banks serve customers in North Central and North Eastern Pennsylvania through their retail and commercial banking, mortgage services and financial services divisions. Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol PWOD.
