Brenda Coffin got to ring the bell in the Oncology Department at Penticton Regional Hospital.
That91裸聊视频檚 how many cancer patients celebrate the end of their chemotherapy treatment at PRH. The bell is engraved with the words: 91裸聊视频淣ever give up, never surrender.91裸聊视频�
For Coffin, she had the added bonus of having her parents and two daughters on hand for the occasion.
Her family91裸聊视频檚 story started on Christmas Eve 2015, when Coffin91裸聊视频檚 younger sister Peggy learned she had breast cancer.
Living in Calgary, Peggy used a video link to inform Coffin and other family members gathered at their parents91裸聊视频� home in Vernon on Boxing Day. She would soon undergo a mastectomy.
91裸聊视频淚 went to help her with her appointments in Calgary and she told me I should get a mammogram done because of what she was going through,91裸聊视频� Coffin recalled.
Although her initial mammogram was clear, a few months later Coffin discovered a lump on her breast which was confirmed to be malignant. Rather than a mastectomy, her doctor performed a less invasive lumpectomy at the cancer clinic in Kelowna last summer.
Coffin then started chemotherapy in Penticton at the Oncology Department at PRH. After six rounds of treatment (each round three weeks apart), she completed her chemo treatment on Feb. 23, 2017. Her final chemo session turned into a family affair. Her two daughters, Chloe and Gracie made a special sign to commemorate the occasion which they brought into the hospital for their Mom.
Chloe said she stayed up late the night before to complete the artwork 91裸聊视频� much to her mom91裸聊视频檚 chagrin.
91裸聊视频淪he was telling me to go to bed at about 10:30, but I said: 91裸聊视频楴o, I have to make it perfect,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she recalled with a grin.
Gracie also donned a pink tutu for the visit, after she and her friends decided to get dressed up at school that day for fun. 91裸聊视频淭hen I decided that maybe I can make some people happy at the hospital if I still wore it,91裸聊视频� Gracie explained. 91裸聊视频淎 lot of people mentioned it and started smiling.91裸聊视频�
Brenda said having her daughters stop by for her final treatment was great.
91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e my sweeties,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲hen I first told them I had cancer, they said: 91裸聊视频楳om, we91裸聊视频檙e going to help you, we91裸聊视频檙e going to get you through this.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Brenda noted her sister91裸聊视频檚 experience battling cancer helped her as well.
91裸聊视频淚 was able to use that as a reassurance that we would get through this, just as Aunty Peggy did,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 just amazing doctors and staff here in Penticton. I was just so impressed 91裸聊视频� from the lab techs to getting my mammogram 91裸聊视频� everybody has been absolutely amazing, especially the oncology team.91裸聊视频�
Brenda said as difficult as her cancer has been, she realizes it could have been much worse.
91裸聊视频淎s tough as it has been, it91裸聊视频檚 not as tough as it could have been,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 know there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of people going through a lot worse. You count your blessings every day.91裸聊视频�
Brenda is now undergoing follow-up radiation treatment in Kelowna. Although she does not require scans by a SPECT-CT machine, she applauds the recent donation of the nuclear medicine equipment for PRH by Penticton businessman David Kampe.
The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation still has $7 million to raise in its $20-million campaign to provide the medical equipment for the PRH expansion, now under construction. For more details, contact the Foundation office at 250-492-9027.
