Children who have been patients at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital took turns ringing a bronze bell on Thursday, Sept. 12, to mark the end of their cancer treatment.

“We believe beating cancer is cause for celebration,” said Beth Abston, a child life specialist at the hospital. “This is our favorite day of the year.”

The day holds special meaning for many of the children, their parents, and caregivers, too, as it often marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one free from chemotherapy, frequent blood draws and time away from school and friends.

Each child who attended received an engraved silver bell to mark the occasion.

USA Health treats children with cancer using a multidisciplinary approach that includes board-certified physicians, advanced practice providers, therapists, nurses, and child life specialists, among others, who focus on caring for patients and supporting their families through a journey that can span several years.

While each child typically participates in a private ceremony in the hospital’s pediatric infusion unit, everyone who completes treatment in the last 12 months is invited to return with family and friends for a larger celebration held in the outdoor courtyard.

The bell ringing ceremony is planned each September during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time to share education and awareness about this critical health issue and to highlight the need for more funding and research.

Here are some facts about childhood cancer, from the American Cancer Society:

• After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14.
• The cancer death rate has declined by more than half from 1970 to 2021 in both children and adolescents, due to improvements in treatment and high participation in clinical trials.
• Unfortunately, kids are still dying too soon. About 1,040 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2024.