Something as simple as ringing a bell brings such great significance to cancer patients who complete treatment at Carle Cancer Institute Urbana. Not only is the bell ringer moved by the power of pulling the cord connected to the clapper but nearby staff and patients are heard applauding and cheering.
Judy Daley of Champaign rang the bell twice. A two-time breast cancer survivor, she is the donor of two new bells - one mounted lower on the wall for reclining patients at Carle Cancer Institute and one on the Oncology floor of Carle Foundation Hospital.
“There is a feeling of triumph when a cancer patient rings the bell upon completing chemotherapy and radiation. It is truly an honor to be a part of that celebration,” Daley said.
Daley’s social media post marking her three-year anniversary since completing radiation treatment prompted Angie Hatfield, director of development for Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, to ask whether Daley might be interested in donating new bells.
Hatfield said the staff in radiation for breast care at Carle Cancer Institute Urbana expressed a need to enhance the patient experience for those who complete treatments but are still in bed. The existing bell is located higher for a standing person.
“We are so grateful to connect with patients who want to give back,” Hatfield said. “Judy’s gift of not only one, but two bells will allow all of our patients and their loved ones to celebrate important milestones as they move forward,” Hatfield said.
Her journey with cancer treatment started in December 2019 when she discovered a lump herself. After seeing her primary care doctor and having ultrasounds, the diagnosis was a stage 1 breast cancer. Despite having a bilateral mastectomy and undergoing chemotherapy in 2020, she again discovered a lump in the same location as her first tumor. A biopsy revealed that she had recurrent breast cancer, which she was told on New Year’s Eve of 2020. There was no family history of breast or ovarian cancer and a genetic evaluation shows that her children are not at risk.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of self-exams,” Daley said, as she credits them for helping to save her life.
While her four chemotherapy treatments with the first diagnosis occurred during the pandemic when many were isolating to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she saw the silver lining of having even more time with those closest to her. “I had all of this extra time to love on my kids. My whole family went through this together.”
Her cherished husband, Greg, a nurse anesthetist at Carle Foundation Hospital, also helped her with the intense cold capping procedure that preserves hair follicles during chemotherapy. Her second treatment plan called for 25 radiation treatments, which she completed in March 2021.
“Taking care of your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health and what a cancer patient keeps from the experience is humility and gratitude,” she said.
There are four bells in total for cancer patients to ring: Carle Cancer Institute Urbana first floor, one for mobile patients and one for non-mobile patients (donated by Judy Daley) and on the second floor where infusions are done. The fourth bell, also donated by Judy Daley, and located on the sixth floor at Carle Foundation Hospital rang for the first time by a patient greeted with a hallway lined by staff members.
“It was really awesome and wonderfully healing for our team as well,” Kristin Goff, BSN, RN, Oncology, Carle Foundation Hospital, said. “Anytime we can, we celebrate patient milestones and the bell made it even more special.”
Judy Daley of Champaign rang the bell twice. A two-time breast cancer survivor, she is the donor of two new bells - one mounted lower on the wall for reclining patients at Carle Cancer Institute and one on the Oncology floor of Carle Foundation Hospital.
“There is a feeling of triumph when a cancer patient rings the bell upon completing chemotherapy and radiation. It is truly an honor to be a part of that celebration,” Daley said.
Daley’s social media post marking her three-year anniversary since completing radiation treatment prompted Angie Hatfield, director of development for Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, to ask whether Daley might be interested in donating new bells.
Hatfield said the staff in radiation for breast care at Carle Cancer Institute Urbana expressed a need to enhance the patient experience for those who complete treatments but are still in bed. The existing bell is located higher for a standing person.
“We are so grateful to connect with patients who want to give back,” Hatfield said. “Judy’s gift of not only one, but two bells will allow all of our patients and their loved ones to celebrate important milestones as they move forward,” Hatfield said.
Her journey with cancer treatment started in December 2019 when she discovered a lump herself. After seeing her primary care doctor and having ultrasounds, the diagnosis was a stage 1 breast cancer. Despite having a bilateral mastectomy and undergoing chemotherapy in 2020, she again discovered a lump in the same location as her first tumor. A biopsy revealed that she had recurrent breast cancer, which she was told on New Year’s Eve of 2020. There was no family history of breast or ovarian cancer and a genetic evaluation shows that her children are not at risk.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of self-exams,” Daley said, as she credits them for helping to save her life.
While her four chemotherapy treatments with the first diagnosis occurred during the pandemic when many were isolating to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she saw the silver lining of having even more time with those closest to her. “I had all of this extra time to love on my kids. My whole family went through this together.”
Her cherished husband, Greg, a nurse anesthetist at Carle Foundation Hospital, also helped her with the intense cold capping procedure that preserves hair follicles during chemotherapy. Her second treatment plan called for 25 radiation treatments, which she completed in March 2021.
“Taking care of your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health and what a cancer patient keeps from the experience is humility and gratitude,” she said.
There are four bells in total for cancer patients to ring: Carle Cancer Institute Urbana first floor, one for mobile patients and one for non-mobile patients (donated by Judy Daley) and on the second floor where infusions are done. The fourth bell, also donated by Judy Daley, and located on the sixth floor at Carle Foundation Hospital rang for the first time by a patient greeted with a hallway lined by staff members.
“It was really awesome and wonderfully healing for our team as well,” Kristin Goff, BSN, RN, Oncology, Carle Foundation Hospital, said. “Anytime we can, we celebrate patient milestones and the bell made it even more special.”
Categories: Culture of Quality, Community
Tags: cancer, Carle Cancer Institute, Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, giving