Editor’s note: The American Cancer Society telethon is being broadcast from noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday. Seven area people are being honored with Courage Awards. We’re featuring one today and the rest on Saturday.

By Jarrad Hedes

jmhedes@tnonline.com

Bernard Krebs was never someone to sit around and dwell on anything.

When the news came in early 2009 that Krebs had esophageal cancer, it came as no surprise to anyone that the lifelong Jim Thorpe resident never put down his camera, left the hiking trails or stopped going to work at Mack Trucks.

“So many people, when they hear they have cancer, get depressed,” Krebs said. “That wasn’t going to be me. I set my mind positive and kept doing the things I love to do.”

Now a 13-year cancer survivor, the 63-year-old Krebs will be one of several local residents honored with a Courage Award during this weekend’s American Cancer Society Telethon of Eastern Pennsylvania held at Penn’s Peak.

“I’m honored to receive this award because it gives hope to people who are going through treatment or just being diagnosed,” Krebs said. “You can go one of two ways while you’re battling cancer. My message to others is don’t sit back and feel sorry for yourself. Attack it and stay positive.”

Krebs first suspected an issue when he would get a burning feeling while eating. Though doctors initially treated him for acid reflux disease, symptoms didn’t improve.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t swallow hard food anymore,” Krebs said. “Doctors did a scope and found it right away. The biopsy showed a stage three single-cell cancer.”

After meeting with members of the Lehigh Valley Health Network heart and lung team, Krebs started treatment calling for 45 days of radiation and a round of chemotherapy every other week.

In July 2009, doctors surgically removed the esophagus and Krebs spent around two-and-a-half weeks in the hospital to ensure everything healed. After the surgery, Krebs received three more rounds of chemotherapy, almost as an insurance policy.

During his pre-surgery radiation, Krebs never left his job at Mack Trucks.

“The only days I missed were when I had to go for chemotherapy,” he said. “From the outset, I decided that I was going to keep working to keep my mind off of the cancer. I kept my other hobbies going too like collecting antiques and hiking. I’d feel a little sluggish when I got up in the morning, but once I got going I felt fine. It takes it’s toll but you really have to think positive and push yourself.”

Now retired from Mack Trucks, Krebs spends more time researching and collecting antiques, even volunteering with Houser Auctioneers. The basement of his Jim Thorpe home remains filled with treasures he’s found over the years, including an 1850s era Howard and Davis “Mauch Chunk Bank” clock.

“It has W.R. Otis’ name on it and he was the president of the bank as well as Asa Packer’s jeweler,” Krebs said. “Inside the clock, it is marked with jewelers who worked on it over the years.”

Krebs found the clock in pieces at a yard sale and paid $5 to bring it home and put it back together. His collection also features numerous items from the Hotel Wahnetah, the 19th century Victorian vacation resort that burned in 1911.

“I have key tags with room numbers on them as well as a chair and forks and spoons,” Krebs said. “Researching the history of all of these items really fascinates me.”

Aided by the support of his wife Jane and daughter Alyssa, Krebs pushed through the cancer battle. His doctors remain confident they removed all of the cancer and have a positive outlook for the future.

“There is always a chance with any cancer that it could come back at any time,” Krebs said. “I’m very lucky though to be a 13-year survivor and I’m thankful every day.”