LIVINGSTON PARISH — Toddler Breelynn Watts finished her last day of chemotherapy on Nov. 7 and the following weekend, she was in Pensacola, Florida, for Jess’ Cancer Crushers softball tournament. Her family shared how the event “was a reminder of how deeply people can love a child they’ve never even met.”
Breelynn was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in June, and since that time, has crossed multiple hurdles, including the removal of her left eye and a prosthetic one taking its place. She went through six rounds of chemotherapy, with her last round ending earlier this month.
In October, Breelynn’s aunt Kelsey Losee shared with UWK: “I’m ready to watch her blossom after this horrible storm.”
Breelynn was invited to be an honoree at the event, which took place Nov. 14-16 in Pensacola, something her great-uncle BJ and his wife had signed her up for. Her mother, Katelyn Bain, wrote on Facebook that as soon as they stepped onto the softball field, “The world felt different. Softer. Kinder. Brighter.”
The softball tournament was among the first opportunities Breelynn has had to do so.
Jess’ Cancer Crushers’ events are held to help families focus on enjoying moments with their children who are going through cancer by helping with the financial burden. As part of the recent tournament, a specially designed jersey was created for TeamBreelynn, which she and her fellow team members wore. Funds from the jersey sales go toward the family of the patient.
Breelynn’s mother wrote that during the tournament, she was “overwhelmed” by the kindness she and her family experienced, with adults constantly telling Breelynn how strong she was and everyone attempting to keep her smiling.
“And every single person, every single one just wanted to see her happy,” Bain said.
Breelynn relished the time, too.
“In the middle of the field, barefoot and confident, she walked across that orange dirt like she owned it,” her mother wrote. “At one point, she even laid right down in the dirt with the whole tournament behind her, and the crowd just melted.”
At the end of the tournament, Breelynn and her family were presented with a check for $2,000, to help with the expenses of her treatment and needs.
“To every single person at Jess’ Cancer Crushers. Every teammate, every volunteer, every donor, every player who signed her jersey, every person who dressed up, who cheered, who hugged her, who gifted her something small or something big…Thank you.
You didn’t just show up for a tournament, you showed up for our daughter. And because of you, we will remember this weekend for the rest of our lives.”
Breelynn will be an honoree at a February tournament, this time in Bayou Country. All proceeds from this event will also go toward cancer survivors. To register for the New Orleans event, click here.
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