The orange ribbon featured on Casey DeSmith's purple Hockey Fights Cancer warmup jersey is for his younger sister Kylene, who had kidney cancer when she was really young. Now, she is in medical school at the University of Denver, with the goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist to help other kids battling with cancer.
"That was always her dream after she beat cancer and got old enough to understand," DeSmith said. "She's my favorite person to brag about."
Players Chose Personal Ribbon Color on Their Hockey Fights Cancer Jerseys
The goaltender was happy for the opportunity to share Kylene's amazing story as part of the NHL's 'Hockey Fights Cancer' Awareness Night, with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation having each player choose a ribbon color to represent a type of cancer that is close to their heart, and featuring it on the chest of these special commemorative jerseys.
"Our players are so passionate about the NHL's 'Hockey Fights Cancer' initiative. In recent seasons, we've learned about their own connections - from siblings to parents to grandparents and beyond," said Amanda Susko, senior director of the Penguins Foundation.
"This ribbon may stand for someone currently battling cancer, a survivor or someone whose fight has passed. It's incredibly personal. Our players selected their ribbon colors for their own loved ones and for our fans facing similar battles. Seeing these ribbons shows that cancer impacts us all. We are truly in this fight together."
DeSmith remembers the day their family found out that Kylene had cancer, after she went to a routine pediatrician appointment. Casey and his other sister Kiran, who is the middle sibling, had been riding bikes around their neighborhood in Rochester, New Hampshire. When they got back and learned the news, everything changed in a heartbeat.
"We got home and Mom was freaking out. Our parents were like, Kylene is sick. That's what they told us," DeSmith said. "I was young, my sisters were even younger. It took me a while to grow up and realize how sick she was, you know?"
For months, the family drove to the Children's Hospital in Boston - often sleeping there - for Kylene's treatments, where she ultimately had to get a kidney removed. Casey can recall bits and pieces from those days.
When they were home, the family had a playset built in their backyard after Kylene participated in Make-A-Wish, so the kids loved going out on that. When they were at the hospital, Casey would play PacMan with Kiran to help pass the time. He remembers Kylene standing on the bed one particularly tough day, refusing to take her medicine and screaming, "You're not going to put one more needle in me!"
"She was tiny, she was like 3," DeSmith said with a smile. "She was amazing getting through that. My parents, too. They obviously grew a lot going through that together. We always had the closest family growing up; my sisters and I were inseparable. I think that helped a lot (when you're) going through something like that all together, when we're just old enough to know what was going on, kind of."
Kylene stayed in touch with the doctors who helped her get well, and ended up working with a couple of them during her studies at Tufts University, where she also ran track and field. Now she's working towards her medical degree, with Casey listing "My Sister's Future Patients" on his "I Fight For" card.
"At the time, obviously it was really tough. After the fact, now that she's doing what she's doing, it's like the coolest story ever," DeSmith said.
Ten different forms of cancer are featured on these jerseys, which will be autographed and available for bid through an online auction from Nov. 15-21 at 12:00 PM. Fans can bid by texting PensHFC to 76278 or visiting
pensHFC.givesmart.com
. Here are some of the other stories behind the players' ribbon choices:
Teddy Blueger - Lymphoma - Lime Green
Over the summer, his close friend Hunter Fejes - who was one of Blueger's roommates at Shattuck-St. Mary's - was diagnosed with lymphoma. "So, that's why it resonated with me," the Penguins center said. "He just rang the bell I think two weeks ago, so it's good."
Jake Guentzel - Childhood - Gold
The Penguins winger launched his Hearts of Gold initiative in the 2019-20 season, purchasing four season tickets to every home game to benefit children with congenital heart defects who are a part of Mended Little Hearts of Southwestern PA.
Tristan Jarry - Pancreatic - Purple
"I just basically tried to pick one that probably most guys wouldn't pick, trying to make sure that they were all shown," the Penguins goaltender said.
Jeff Petry and Bryan Rust - Prostate - Blue
Petry's grandfather, who had prostate cancer, passed away in 2015. "Then my wife's uncle John is battling with it right now, so multiple reasons why I chose that," the defenseman said.
Rust's dad Steve battled prostate cancer in the past, with Bryan growing a mustache each November since turning professional with Pittsburgh as part of Movember. "It's a cause that's very near and dear to my heart," the forward said. "This initiative is something that's awesome. It's something that's across the league, across sports, and I think it just adds to the excitement of tonight."
Chad Ruhwedel - Melanoma - Black
The Penguins defenseman chose that particular ribbon because his family has had a history with melanoma. "I know it's a really, really popular one that doesn't necessarily get a lot of recognition, but it infects a lot of people with all the various forms of it. That one kind of hit home, so it's the one I decided to choose."
All proceeds from the Penguins' 'Hockey Fights Cancer' fundraising will benefit the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Mario Lemieux Foundation (
full details here
). It's a night - and month - that the Penguins are always proud to take part in each November.
"I think all the respective teams that are involved, the players and the coaches alike, are enthusiastic about trying to help," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "The reason is because everybody understands the need, and everybody has a personal experience. That, I think, makes it hit home with all of us involved.
"So not only are we excited to be a part of it in some small way to help the cause, but we also feel a sense of responsibility with the platform that we're given through pro hockey to try to do the right thing. So for me, it's a worthwhile experience, and we're all enthusiastic to partake."
