Bell ringing for 12 childhood cancer patients held at Children’s & Women’s Hospital
The bell-ringing ceremony is planned each September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time to share education and awareness about this critical health issue and to highlight the need for more funding and research.
By Casandra Andrews
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A dozen children who have been patients at USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital in the past 12 months took turns ringing a bronze bell on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to mark the end of their cancer treatment.
The day holds special meaning for many of the children, their parents, and caregivers, as it often marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one free from chemotherapy, frequent blood draws and time away from school and friends. Each child who attended received an engraved silver bell to mark the occasion.
USA Health treats children with cancer using a multidisciplinary approach that includes board-certified physicians, advanced practice providers, therapists, nurses, and child life specialists, among others, who focus on caring for patients and supporting their families through a journey that can span several years.
While each child typically participates in a private ceremony in the hospital’s pediatric infusion unit, everyone who completes treatment in the past 12 months is invited to return with family and friends for a larger celebration held in the outdoor courtyard.
The bell-ringing ceremony is planned each September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time to share education and awareness about this critical health issue and to highlight the need for more funding and research.
After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, the death rate from cancer has declined by more than half from 1970 to 2021 in children and adolescents, because of improvements in treatment and high participation in clinical trials.
