Bells and Whistles – Final Chemo #6

Little known fact: I had my first music arrangement published when I was 15 years old. I had taken a song that my dad had written, “Teach Me O Lord to Care” (page 312 in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal), and turned it into a handbell arrangement for our youth ensemble to sing and ring. (Playing the bells and adding a singing part was a new novelty in that era). So, handbells have been a part of my life for a very long time. 

Fast forward to now. Dick will be the Musical Director for a theatre production here in Bowling Green next month of Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame”. It’s a fabulous work that I was unfamiliar with until hearing the songs through the walls every day as he becomes familiar with the score. The name of one of the songs in the musical? “The Bells of Notre Dame”. 

But the most beautiful bells I’ve heard in a long, long time were bells I found myself ringing yesterday, May 13, 2026 somewhere between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. These bells signified my last round of chemo. The final moments I would be in that infusion center. And oh, what a bell ringing it was! It was so loud and exhuberent that wherever you may have been, you might have heard it! 😊 This is a different video than I posted on Facebook. It’s a tad longer, with some extras at the end. 

You may have noticed that I had two bells. Hmmm, how did that happen, you may be asking? Well, let me explain. Obviously, you can see in the main photo that Dick and I are standing next to a bell that is affixed to the wall. That’s “the bell” that all of the patients ring. 

But I rang a second bell. My dear friend, Bonnie, was scheduled to be with me for lunch yesterday, but when one of my meds was removed for the chemo treatment, it made the time shorter so we didn’t need anyone to come during lunch time. But she still arrived early, and brought a special gift with her from our singing buddy, Marty, and his wonderful wife, Vickie. Marty has walked through cancer and the McCall’s understand the significance of ringing the bell at the end of chemo. So their gift to me? My own personal bell! You can’t see the inscription, but it says, “Mel’s Bell. Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” 

I spoke with Marty and Vickie once we got home from the hospital, thanking them profusely for such a timely, perfect gift. They explained that they want this bell to be not only a reminder of yesterday, but a way to praise God in future days. So they left off a date so the bell wouldn’t just be tied to this event, and decided on that perfect verse of scripture. And that is how I got to ring two bells as I celebrated the end of chemotherapy! How blessed I am! 

A couple more details from yesterday I want to include . . .  

First, there was a couple sitting across from us during my infusion. We introduced ourselves and the husband said, “Here’s how to remember our names. Her name is Ro, and we call her ‘Ro your boat’. And my name is Bill, and I go by ‘Electric Bill’”. I told them we wouldn’t forget those names! Later on, I was laying back in the chair with my eyes closed, awake but relaxed. I began to hear someone whistle softly. And I thought I recognized the song. It sounded like “Holy Forever”, one of my favorite newer worship songs. I opened my eyes and Bill was walking around our area as a nurse was speaking with Ro. I said, “Was that you whistling?” And he said yes, it was. I said, “Was it a worship song?” And he said, yes, it was. And I began to sing a bit of “Holy Forever” to which Ro jumped in and said, “That’s what we were listening to on our way in today.” Another sweet connection with like-minded Jesus lovers. (And now you know why I titled this post, “Bells and Whistles”). 

One more story to tell: I mentioned our new friends, Melody and Nick in an earlier post. We are “Dick and Mel”, they are “Nick and Mel”.  😃 They were there for her infusion yesterday, and I went over with my IV pole in tow to say hello. We had a lovely conversation. About an hour later, Nick handed a piece of his artwork to Dick. The sentiment could not have been more perfect! And what a great artist he is! 

That totally resonated with us! We’d love to meet up with them at the grocery store or at a concert . . . but never again at TN Oncology, thank you very much.

This morning, Dick and I were thanking the Lord for all that happened yesterday, trying to hold on to the precious moments of the day. Sometimes we “ping pong” with each of us taking turns sharing something and then letting the other person share, going back and forth. As we did that today, we found ourselves grateful for SO much, and our time of listing the many blessings went on for a while. 

At the top of our list was the group of people who showed up at the hospital to cheer us on. These are men and women who represent our lives through the years! Various churches, neighborhoods, family, new friends, old friends . . . And each of them stood for so many of you who have been engaged and invested with us through this journey. We stand amazed at your encouragements, texts, posts, gifts, cards, phone calls and other acts of love (always so timely)! 

We are also very grateful for the medical team at TN Oncology that the Lord brought us to. These are amazing men and women (some are not pictured) and there is no doubt we are where God led us to be in the whirlwind of my initial diagnosis. 

So, moving forward . . . the bells have been rung . . . my last chemotherapy is finished. What’s next? Well, we are heading to the finish line, but we aren’t quite there yet. In a few weeks, I will have a scan done to confirm that the cancer is indeed gone. We are walking in certainty that it is, based on our surgeon’s conclusions. But the scan will be important. After that, I will have regular checkups with our oncologist every three months. Possibly during that first checkup we will hear the word “remission”. And that will be music to our ears! But again, this will be based on the scan results and blood testing that will be part of the equation. I say all of this because while the bell ringing was absolutely significant, there is still more ahead. If you have been praying for us, don’t stop quite yet. 😊 I will continue to post, because no doubt, God will continue to be teaching me in the days ahead. 

One of the verses Dick and I have tried our best to live out in these last months has been this one (and pay attenton to the highlighted word): “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). Notice it doesn’t say, “Consider it pure joy after the trials are over and you made it through!” But when you are facing them. We haven’t lived this out perfectly, but just being aware of this verse has allowed us to trust deeper, pray more fervently, and lean harder on our Mighty and Merciful God. And we will continue to do that. 

Thank you for your wonderful support, prayers, and love as we continue to run to the battle. And thanks for joining us to celebrate a bell-ringing we will never forget!