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Ring the Bell!
Clang! cried the bell, as noisemakers rattled and whoops and cheers rang out
Clang! pealed the bell, as noisemakers chattered with yells and applause
Clang! sang the bell, as noisemakers roared and voices whooped and hollered.
And I stood there, covered my face, and cried.
* * *
As the final ritual for ending chemotherapy at Advent Hospital, patients are invited to say the poem below and “ring the bell” three times. I didn’t plan on ringing it, since I thought I would be the only one there to do the deed. As it turns out, all the infusion nurses, including several who had taken care of me, excitedly spread the word that the bell was going to be rung. This act is a milestone in so many ways, to mark the end of a treacherous road and to celebrate life. My husband, fortunately, encouraged me to do it and stood nearby. So, when I walked over to the bell that was hanging on the wall, imagine my surprise when all the nurses, grinning and rattling their noisemakers, stood nearby. This is the poem I declared, followed by a fist pump!
Ring this bell
Three times well
Its toll to clearly say,
My treatment’s done
This course is run
And I am on my way!
— Irve Le Moyne
My journey has not been nearly as difficult as some patients; some people have many more treatments with devastating side effects. Although I have had my share of pain and discomfort and now have peripheral neuropathy, I am satisfied that I took the steps I needed to take to pursue a rich and worthy life.
Now a new path unfolds in front of me. I will have to contemplate how the road ahead appears. As our @mim526 said to me early on, cancer does not define a person; it refines them.
How that transformation, if any, manifests, time will tell.
Ring that bell!
I love it, @dave-rogers! Good for them!! What a great way to be scared! Thanks for your good wishes!
I love this. So thankful you are on this new path. Continuing to hold you in prayer!
Whoa! I wished I’d said that. Come to think of it, I probably will.
“At length – at length – after so many days Of weary pilgrimage and burning thirst,(Thirst for the springs of lore that in thee lie,) I kneel, an altered and an humble man, Amid thy shadows, and so drink within My very soul thy grandeur, gloom, and glory!”
Well done, on a finishing a long- and I’m sure weary- journey, Susan. You’re in my prayers, always.
Working in that medical specialty must be emotionally draining, maybe not noticable day to day, but it accumulates.
If I have to go through that experience, I’ll ring the bell for them (if there is one).
FANTASTIC!
God bless you, Susan!
Congratulations Susan!
Amen. So glad you got to RING THAT BELL!!
Thank you, Susan. Prayers answered, prayers continue.
Love and Peace Susan. Congratulations.
Awesome news!!! I love to hear about ringing that bell.
I’m so happy for you that this part is finished! I’m sure you’re looking forward to a life without these treatments. God bless!
Yes!
I had the chance to ring a bell after the last of my radiation treatments, but I suspect I’m not done yet, so I opted to wait. We’ll see where the PSAs are later this week.
Glory in it, my friends. It takes courage to get this far.
I’ll pray for good news, @douglaspratt! You have been such a trooper through your process!
Congratulations Susan. You got this!
Congratulations, Susan!
I can’t begin to tell you how blown away I am by everyone’s response to this post. The encouragement, support and enthusiasm has been truly inspirational, and I’m trying to take it all in. I’ve always known that Ricochet was a terrific community of caring folks, but for me, your likes and comments have taken my understanding to a new level. You can’t possibly know how gratified and humbled I am.
Thank you.
I am so glad that you completed this stage and had the joy you described. I never received my last two treatments because I developed pulmonary emboli and didn’t go back to the infusion center. Thus, no bell. I’m not sure I would have wanted to ring it. I have a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer and don’t want to tempt fate ;-)
Oh my goodness, @onlinepark. That is really scary, and I can’t say I blame you! How are you doing now?
Congratulations Susan!
Go out and enjoy this summer ☺️!
The bell gives the rest hope….tells them people do get to the end of chemo.
Susan, I cannot express in words how happy I am for you at this blessed milestone in your treatment. I have a very specific reason for fully (as possible) understanding the pure, unalloyed joy of this moment as My Lady- Miz Judi as she is known here- experienced that thrilling ceremony a few years ago. She just recently got a clean bill of health, which should be a harbinger of hope for you and yours! Brava!
Sincerely, Jim
Hurray!!!! That does inspire me, @jimgeorge! This has been a trying week as I keep reminding myself that no matter how bad I feel, it’s done! At least this portion is finished. I’m so glad to hear Miz Judi’s recent news and I wish you both a happy and healthy future!
I am well and in three weeks will say 4 years NED (no evidence of disease). Apparently my prognosis improved dramatically at 3 years so here hoping. ;-)
Yippee and hurrah! Congratulations on the good news! (I haven’t even thought ahead to prognosis; I’m just trying to get through the fatigue of the latest treatment.) I’m so happy for you!
Wow! That is really great news!
The sun is out!