Thanks to the generosity of a grateful patient, Mercy Hospital South has dedicated a new bell at the David M. Sindelar Cancer Center to allow patients to celebrate the completion of their chemotherapy, mark the end of active treatment and honor other occasions.
Steve Humphreys started his journey as a cancer patient in April 2017. That’s when he met Dr. Shaun Donegan, Mercy Clinic medical oncologist. More than two years later, in September 2019, Humphreys completed his chemotherapy at Dr. Donegan’s clinic and was eager to ring the bell. Except, there was no bell to ring.
Steve and his wife, Betsy, decided that to thank Mercy and Dr. Donegan for his care, they would donate a bell to be included in the Sindelar Cancer Center that was under construction at the time.
Then the bell arrived. It is not the typical bell seen inside cancer centers. It is a bold, beautiful 54-pound bell with Dr. Donegan’s name inscripted on it. It was clear this bell was too big, too loud to be used inside.
Instead, new plans had to be made to accommodate the bell outside. On Friday, June 11, Steve and Betsy Humphreys returned to Mercy South to dedicate the bell and give it its first official ring. The bell can be heard across the parking lot and inside the infusion center within the cancer center where it will bring hope and promise to every patient. See the video of Steve ringing the bell.
Anyone who would like to honor their physician or other caregiver can contact Mercy Health Foundation South at 314-525-7330 or contribute online at mercyhealthfoundation.net/south.
