The Reach For A Dream Foundation recently launched the Ring A Bell Campaign at the paediatric oncology ward of the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre to celebrate patient’s completion of treatment.
Julia Sotitianakos, the foundation’s chief executive officer said the campaign was specifically for children who are finishing their chemotherapy treatment.
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“It is specifically for all our children who have been diagnosed with some form of cancer and we have the bell placed in all the oncology wards,” she explained.
“We have launched them across all Gauteng hospitals that we work in, first as a pilot and then we will launch nationwide next year.”
Isabel McLeod, a five-year-old girl who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lLeukemia when she was two years and ten months old, was the first patient to ring the bell on launch day. It was an emotional affair for both her family and staff members at the ward.
Chairman of the foundation, Mervyn Serebro, who lost a son to cancer 19 years ago, said the campaign was close to the foundation’s heart. “It is defining moments when we ask a child to ring a bell and have that bell resonate through the walls to mark a change in that child’s journey,” said Serebro.
“Isabel has just completed her treatment and I’m very emotional because she has spent three years immersed in the most painful journey imaginable.”
McLeod’s mother, Tilana expressed her gratitude through tears of joy and said it was a dream come true to see her daughter complete her treatment. “She [Isabel] has been through a lot and she’s seen more needles than most of the grown-ups here. Our hearts are bursting with gratefulness,” said McLeod.
“I’m also overwhelmed and I can’t believe the day is here. It’s amazing to stand here today.”
Before the ringing ceremony, McLeod read the celebratory poem which marks the end of treatment mounted above the gold bell. The five-year-old rung the bell proudly and received a certificate, a T-shirt and a goodie bag from the foundation.
“She still has to come in every six weeks for a check-up, but we have been told what to look out for in the years to come. She has had chemo every single day for the past three years. She can be a normal little girl and go to school,” cried Tilana.
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