In a move celebrated by families, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has announced the return of a cherished tradition for young cancer patients. Public bell-ringing ceremonies will resume at the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton starting March 1, 2025.
A Decision Reversed After Family Feedback
The health authority had previously informed staff and families earlier this year that the public ceremonies would be discontinued within the hospital. The initial decision was made due to concerns about preventing the spread of illness among immunocompromised patients during the peak respiratory virus season.
However, AHS stated it listened to the significant concerns raised by patients and their loved ones who deeply value the celebration. The ceremonies will be reinstated as the high season for respiratory viruses is expected to decline.
"We heard the concern of patients and families who desire the bell ringing ceremony," AHS said in a statement. "The Stollery team recently transitioned temporarily away from a public bell ringing ceremony in the active treatment area, to protect the safety of immunocompromised patients."
A Symbol of Hope and Closure
Bell-ringing ceremonies are a pivotal milestone for cancer patients, marking the end of a significant phase of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. It is a moment of public celebration, hope, and closure for children who have endured rigorous medical journeys.
The story of the ceremony's cancellation first gained public attention when Karemi Dye-Wilson shared her daughter's experience. Her seven-year-old daughter, Myla, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2023 at age five. After 119 cumulative days of treatment, Myla achieved remission.
Throughout her treatment, Myla watched other patients celebrate with the bell and eagerly awaited her turn. That hope was dashed when her mother found a letter from AHS stating the in-hospital ceremonies would no longer be held.
A Family's Relief and a Community's Tradition
Dye-Wilson expressed immense relief and excitement at the news of the tradition's return. "A lot of our kids go through huge, huge amounts of stress and difficulty during their cancer journey," she said. "The kids deserve to have a little bit of closure on that chapter and to have that bell ringing there."
Following the original cancellation, Myla had a private bell-ringing ceremony at the Kids with Cancer Society's facility. While meaningful, it was not the same as the public celebration within the hospital walls alongside the care team that supported her.
The reinstatement of the ceremony underscores the importance of balancing clinical safety with the profound psychological and emotional needs of patients and their families. For the Stollery community, the sound of the bell ringing in March will once again symbolize resilience, victory, and a new beginning.
