Bell Ringing

At the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, patients celebrate their last day of treatment by ringing the bell at the “Ring in Hope” wall. Ringing the bell symbolizes closing the door on this chapter of life and hope for a healthy future. Nurses, radiation therapists and other staff members join in the celebration, and many patients invite their family and friends to be a part of their last day. Patients also receive a certificate of completion from their clinical team.

The Bell

The bell is located in front of the elevators leading to the treatment rooms, so patients are reminded each day that they will make it to the finish line. The quote under the bell, “Every day is a gift, just untie the ribbon,” is from Patricia Tierney, a cancer survivor who was treated by William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FACRO, Executive Director of MPTC and the Isadore & Fannie Schneider Foxman Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

You can watch one of MPTC’s patients, Danielle Whidby, ring the bell in the video below.