The Bell...

I love Christmas time. I love the stories of Christmas and charity, and recently I’ve thought a lot about the symbol and sounds of bells during this time of year. In the movie, “A Wonderful Life”, George Bailey doesn’t realize all the good he has done in his life, all the dozens and even hundreds of people that are eternally better for knowing him and being served by him. George has an angel assigned to him named Clarence, that lovingly serves him and helps him to realize the great success and service of his life. Clarence hadn’t earned his wings yet, which in this angel’s world are given as a symbol of recognition for blessing those that he has been given charge over. At the end of the movie, a bell on the Christmas tree rings, acknowledging that Clarence had successfully fulfilled his responsibilities and his opportunities.

In the movie “The Polar Express” the bell symbolizes a child’s ability to believe in the true meaning of Christmas and all its wondrous stories. You can only hear the most beautiful peals and rings of the bell if you truly believe, there is no other way. For those that choose not to believe, the bell rings silent and is considered broken and worthless. To believe and to allow the bell’s joyous sound to enter your heart, allows for miracles to occur, again and again.

There is a bell at Primary Children’s Hospital, located on the fourth floor in the children’s cancer wing. It’s a small bell with a loud clear ring that hangs on a central wall in a revered spot. This bell serves a special and unique purpose, and symbolizes triumph over one of the most difficult journeys a child is asked to bravely traverse. We heard the bell for the first time at the beginning of October when Ammon was originally diagnosed. We were sitting in Ammon’s hospital room and his nurse, Andi, had to excuse herself because it was time to ring the bell. “What’s the bell,” we asked, and she told us she would tell us all about it when she came back. Curiosity getting the best of us we listened intently at the door of Ammon’s room. It was clear that everyone that worked in the cancer wing was gathering and there started to be quite the celebratory commotion rising. We heard cheering, followed by singing, followed by clapping. Then for just a brief moment, everything got really quiet. Suddenly, in that moment of silence, we heard the sound of a bell being rung vigorously, and the cheering erupted to new volumes. Summer, Ammon, and I knew we had just listened to something special, something miraculous.

A while later, Andi returned to Ammon’s room with a smile and a cookie shaped like a ginger bread man that she gave to us. The cookie was missing a leg. Andi then proceeded to tell us that the bell is only rung by very strong and special children and youth. Once a child completes their last chemo treatment they are awarded the privilege of gathering with their family and friends, including all of their new friends at the hospital, and ringing the bell. The young man that rang the bell this day, lost his leg to cancer, but he still won the fight. And according to Andi, he won it with a smile.

With celebratory cheers and song, we’ve heard the bell rung a couple of times since then, and each time it brings a joyous and emotional response. Whenever I’ve heard a bell so far this Christmas season, I always think of Ammon’s cancer journey and what he is enduring. For us, the sweet ringing of bells is a symbol of victory, of endurance, of joy, and of miracles. I believe in the sound of that bell on the fourth floor and all it symbolizes. I believe in the hope it conveys. I believe that Ammon will ring that bell someday. Until that day comes, I listen for the sound of bells, and I believe.