Local teen headed to the Super Bowl after beating cancer

REEDSVILLE, Ohio (WTAP) - Beating cancer deserves a major reward-especially if you are a kid.

Well, one local teen who is now cancer-free just got the gift of a lifetime. He’s going to the Super Bowl.

Braylyn Johnson is a freshman at Eastern High School who loves the Bengals and playing baseball.

Nine months ago, Braylyn’s dad Mike McIntyre said they got the news that nobody ever wants to hear.

“My wife had noticed that he was playing baseball a little differently. And then, on the ride home, she asked him some questions and he said the blanket was too heavy on his leg. After that, we ended up with an x-ray, MRI, and a biopsy at Children’s at Cincinnati that showed it was osteosarcoma,” McIntyre said.

His cancer was in his right femur. After 32 rounds of chemo, 34 blood and platelet transfusions, and several major surgeries, McIntyre said he is now cancer-free.

He is now undergoing physical therapy and even getting back into the weight room with his baseball team. Then they got another surprise- State Representative Jay Edwards decided to give him and his dad tickets to see the Bengals play in the Super Bowl.

“We got the tickets and we are flying out…and a hotel and we are excited. We got our clean scan, no more cancer, chemo’s done. This happened to work right out. It’s unbelievable.”

Braylyn said his former teacher, and Joe Burrow’s mother, Robin Burrow, gave him a football signed by Joe-another gift he says he is grateful for.

He says the Burrows, his community and his family are what helped him stay positive while he battled for 9 months.

He said he and his dad will always back the Bengals 100 percent.

“Watching him going to Cincinnati, we were up there all the time with Children’s and when we got to go to little special things-he just lit up,” McIntyre said.

“I mean, how can you not become a fan when your child is just going through everything and just smile and be a child again.”

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