Sound of hope in the Cancer Center

If you hear the sound of a bell ringing in the St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend, that's a signal to smile. The new bell - hung in the Infusion Room - is there for patients or family members to ring whenever they want to celebrate or recognize a meaningful milestone.

The new bell is a gift from Sam and Shane Coleman, both St. Charles caregivers. It's a personal gesture for Sam, who completed her last round of chemotherapy for breast cancer last summer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39 after finding a lump during a self-exam. Sam underwent five months of chemotherapy and then had a mastectomy. The surgery went well - and she's feeling optimistic as she has no signs of cancer in her lymph nodes or genetic markers.

"I was very lucky to go through chemotherapy and surgery and be done with it," said Sam, who works in regulatory affairs and quality.

Sam says her work team has been amazing. "I feel really really lucky to have been here. My work team has been super supportive and wonderful."

Now, with two young children at home, Sam says she's ready to focus on getting back to normal as much as possible.

Sam isn't sure where she first heard about the idea of ringing a bell after finishing cancer treatment - possibly a show or story she read. She wanted to ring a bell when she completed chemotherapy, but the Cancer Center didn't have one. She and Shane offered to purchase one, so that future patients could experience a ringing moment of celebration together. Social Services Associate Linda Robson worked with the Colemans to find and order a 7-inch brass bell designed just for this purpose.

Last week, the bell was delivered and hung in the Infusion Room at the Cancer Center in Bend. Sam wants the bell to be for everyone and not just for individuals who had "beaten" cancer - because she knows that day doesn't come for all patients. Her goal was to make ringing of the bell something every patient could experience.

"I want it to be really inclusive. If someone got great news after surgery - go ring the bell; if you survived the first round of chemo - go ring the bell. I want people to be able to celebrate big and small wins. I hope it's a happy thing," said Sam. "I want something that's a little bit more meaningful for everyone, not just those of us who are lucky enough to be done. I hope people find their reason to ring it."

Shane hopes that hearing the sound will bring people a feeling of hope - for caregivers, patients and families. "I hope families hear the bell and think, 'Oh, that's a happy thing.'"