Ring them bells

Thursday was my second round of chemotherapy. It went a little smoother the second time around now that we knew the drill.

In the treatment room is a bell with a little poem on it that you get to ring when you are done with your treatments.

I was talking to a woman on Thursday who I met on my first round and she was told me it was her last treatment day. So I said to her, "Oh, you get to ring the bell today!" She said she wasn't sure she was going to do it. So I asked her why? She said that she didn't want to bother anyone.

In my head I thought it was so sad. That is something many of us women do. We can't bother people and have our own needs and desires. No, that is not for us. I have been there, I know how that works. Not self nurturing at all.

So I told her that last month when I was there for my first round and another woman was having her last round, I was inspired and hopeful when she rang the bell. My friend smiled said she felt the same way. I was glad she had the same experience as me and wondered if that would help her to rethink it.

So I continued and said, "I cannot wait to ring that bell and you best be damn sure that I am going to ring it more than 3 times. I am ringing it once for every freaking round! "

We laughed, we chatted about other things for awhile and then I strolled back to my chair to rest.

I kept my eye on her all day wondering what she would decide to do when she left. And then at the end of the day, I saw her reading the poem on the bell with the nurse and I knew she changed her mind.

My husband and I got up and went over to watch and clap for her. She rang that bell way more than 3 times with a huge, happy smile on her face. The nurse was hugging her and handing her flowers.

She was able to walk out of there a free woman and we got to go back to our drips with a full and hopeful heart.

Good for you, survivor woman! I don't even think we ever exchanged names, but I know I won't forget you.