HARRISBURG, Pa. — For patients at UMPC Hillman Cancer Center, the ringing of this bell, is the sound of hope.
The Pinnacle Foundation recently installed seven "Hope Bells" at infusion centers across central Pennsylvania.
Infusion Nurse Alleecia Munchel has been working with cancer patients for seven years.
she created it as an alternative to the traditional end-of-treatment bell to help patients celebrate every 'small' win during treatment.
"This bell basically gives them the opportunity to celebrate any personal milestone such as a stable or improved scan, said nurse, Aleecia Munchell. "Maybe they set a personal goal of seeing their child graduate or to mark Like another year anniversary, or even just to signify. That they closure of their journey based on their own terms."
Aleecia came up with the idea in collaboration with her late patient Barbara Gutshall, who passed away after a courageous fight with breast cancer.
The Gutshall family donated the first bell, in the medical sciences pavilion in Harrisburg.
"The Gutshall family, they worked with Alicia, and they were so inspired by the work that she was doing around this, that they wanted to make a personal gift for the location here to be able to have their own, their very own hope bell. In honor of Don's Late wife Barb," said Director of Development, Michelle Loomis.
The Pinnacle Foundation funded the other bells across our region.
Foundation director, Michelle Loomis says having this new beacon of hope has been life changing for patients.
"To be able to give them a voice and to be able to ring that bell. It means so much to them, to the staff that's supporting them, and especially their families to focus on," said Loomis. "Celebrating a win, even if it's something small, it really, truly helps along the journey."
Munchell was awarded the the prestigious HOPE Award for 2023-2024 by UPMC, for her work on the project.