Annual bell ringing for childhood cancer patients postponed

Because of safety concerns related to COVID-19, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital has postponed its annual bell ringing ceremony that celebrates patients who have completed their treatment for childhood cancer.

The private event typically draws several hundred family members, friends and healthcare staff to the hospital courtyard in Midtown Mobile. This year, 11 children who have successfully completed treatment will be honored. We look forward to gathering in the near future to celebrate with our brave patients.

At the completion of each patient’s chemotherapy and radiation treatment, a small ceremony is held in the infusion suite known as the USS Hope to mark the end of treatment. Family and members of the child’s care team gather to celebrate with confetti cannons and the ringing of a small bell. One such ceremony was recently shared on the hospital’s Facebook page.

Research shows every two minutes worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer. One in every 285 children in the United States will develop cancer and more children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease.

The hospital’s larger bell ringing ceremony is planned each September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Activities are held during September in the Mobile area and across the nation to provide education and awareness to this issue and highlight the need for more funding and research. At that time each child rings a large bell and receives an engraved silver bell to commemorate the journey.