Butler County restaurant’s KylerStrong booth honors 10-year-old

The KylerStrong booth at Chili’s at Bridgewater Falls is one of the most requested of all its tables, said assistant manger Drake Connley.

The booth honors the memory of Kyler Bradley, a 10-year-old boy who died one year ago from the childhood cancer known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. It’s better known by its initials, DIPG.

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The memorial to Kyler includes a simple silver rectangle metal plate affixed to the inside of the booth, which is where a server’s work station once stood.

But it means a lot more, Connley said.

“A lot of people that are affiliated or know the Bradley family, they really connect to that booth,” Connley said. “Even though it’s just a little plaque that says ‘KylerStrong’ on it, it means just so much.”

Kelly Sims, of North College Hill, was sitting with friends Ryan Hardy and Wellard Aufranc, both of Hamilton, at the booth on Monday afternoon. Once Simms and her booth mates realized it was dedicated to Kyler, they posed for a selfie.

“I know all about Kyler,” she said. “I follow (Kyler’s mom) on social media.”

Rebecca Bradley, Kyler’s mom, posted social media updates about Kyler on her family’s Facebook page, and continues to do so.

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Today marks the one-year “angel-versary” of Kyler’s passing, and the KylerStrong booth will be closed off.

Between 200 to 400 children are diagnosed with DIPG every year, typically between 4 and 11 years old, making it a rare cancer. Brain stem tumors, like DIPG, account for 10 to 15 percent of all brain tumors within children, according to The Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation. The cancer attacks a child’s brain stem at the base of the brain and is aggressive.

The Bradleys are regular patrons at the Bridgewater Falls Chili’s, and the staff wanted to honor Kyler and the family. Connley said it was an easy call by the area manager to approve the placing a plate on the booth.

Connley said the idea behind the decision was: “Since that booth never existed, why don’t we make that special.”

They staff also honors Kyler with his picture hanging on a restaurant wall.

The booth debuted on April 16, 2016, the day of Kyler’s funeral. Connley recalled the restaurant was filled with supporters of the Bradleys after the funeral.

“The emotion was palpable in the restaurant,” he said.

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