The VitaLink - Maury Regional Healthcare System

THE VITALINK
Celebration Bell holds significance
for cancer patients and staff
The sound of a bell can often evoke a sense of joy
within the human spirit. Whether it’s a church bell calling
the faithful to worship, or a sidewalk Santa reminding
us that Christmas is just around the corner, the sound is
special.
For Henry Phillips and others who have fought the
same fight as him, the sound of a bell ringing at MRMC
holds a very special significance. It is a reminder that they
are overcomers, victors and survivors. Here, it means that
each has won another battle in their personal war against
the enemy cancer.
On December 12, Phillips rang the Celebration Bell
to mark the completion of his last round of radiation
treatment for prostate cancer. Phillips is one of more than
150 patients who have celebrated in this way since the first
bell was rung at MRMC on August 21, 2012.
“Ringing the bell was the end of the first phase of my
treatment. Looking around the hallway at the doctors,
nurses, technicians and receptionist who had worked
so closely with me let me know that I had made lifelong
friends. These friends gave me moral support, answered
questions about my condition and generally encouraged
me during my treatments,” Phillips said. “I do not know
of another place in Middle Tennessee where such detail
is given to a patient’s care. I would recommend Maury
Regional to anyone who needs the special care that I
received.”
Radiation Therapy Director David Thomas said the
adoption of MRMC’s Celebration Bell occurred after
Radiation Therapist Kathleen Robertson learned about its
growing popularity at other medical centers throughout the
world.
“I’d been looking at the World Wide Radiation
Therapists Facebook page and saw that the Celebration
Bell was getting a wonderful response internationally,”
Robertson said. “We talked about it for several weeks and
came to the conclusion that if it brightened the spirits of so
many in so many places, it could do the same here.”
Thomas said the sound of the Celebration Bell brings
joy to staff members as well as patients and their families.
“Staff will sometimes come running out from their
rooms when they hear the bell. When a patient rings the
Celebration Bell you can see a look of accomplishment
on his or her face that is rewarding for the entire staff,”
Thomas said.
MRMC patient Henry Phillips is pictured ringing the
Celebration Bell with encouragement from Radiation Therapy
staff members (l-r) Jeremy Winningham, David Thomas,
Kathleen Robertson, Brett Miller, Jana Andrews, Shellie Johns,
Warren Davis, Sue Hodge and Dr. Michael Sattasiri.
MRMC launches Coping with Cancer support group
Coping with Cancer, a new support group for cancer
patients began on January 21. The group will meet for a
period of six weeks at the Cancer Center at Columbia Mall
in the Cancer Resource Center.
The mission of the group is to support those who
are diagnosed with cancer and to provide them with an
opportunity to share their frustrations, fears and feelings.
Meetings are facilitated by Emily McKnight, a lifelong
resident of Maury County who has a master’s degree
in counseling and human development from Vanderbilt
University. Her experience includes counseling in the areas
of grief, caregiver support and divorce.
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“Maury Regional is proud to be able to offer this
new free service to those who have been diagnosed with
cancer,” Director of Infusion and Women’s Imaging Dana
Salters said. “There is a tremendous range of emotions
that come with being told you have cancer. Many patients
benefit greatly from being able to share what they are going
through with others and hear from other patients about
how they have coped with similar challenges. It creates a
bond and a support system like nothing else I have ever
seen.”
For more information or to register for an upcoming
session, call 931.490.7192.