The tradition of a bell -ringing at the end of cancer treatment began at MD Anderson in November of 1996. U.S Navy Rear Admiral, Irve Le Moyne, the nation's highest-ranking Navy Seal and founder of the United States military joint special operations, originated this tradition that now rings in cancer centers across the country. After undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, he told his doctor that he planned to follow a Navy tradition of ringing a bell to signify a job well done. Bringing his own brass bell to his last treatment and eagerly ringing it several times, he left his bell long with a poem he authored to memorialize the tradition. M.D Anderson mounted both the admiral's bell and verse on the wall of its radiation treatment center.  

Following my treatment at Texas Oncology, I joined the countless others that have rung the bell. While ringing the bell, I read the words authored by this brave warrior and for all those that fight a battle of a different kind;

Ringing Out

Ring this bell

Three times well

Its toll to clearly say,

My treatment's done

This course is run

And I am on my way!

— Irve Le Moyne

While I do not know what tomorrow holds–with cancer, there is always that thought, "will it come back?" I do not think this will be the last trial I will endure on this earth. Yet, I believe my experience will bring strength to whatever lies ahead and, hopefully, strength to others. I will trust in the one who created me knows every hair on my head, and I will ring this bell in celebration and praise–for a new life beyond cancer, and for a job well done.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song [bell], I praise him." Psalm 28:7

[my word]