Chemo Bells | Video

Van Tieu | 2/6/2013

After six weeks of radiation, a surgery, and 12 treatments of chemotherapy, one Bismarck woman`s year-long battle with colon cancer comes to an end with a ring.

"The first thing I think is, when you hear you have cancer, am I going to die? First thing," said Juliana Takenalive.

As a mother of five, she had to get healthy, so began her year long journey in and out of the hospital, including chemotherapy.

"It was really rough at first. Rough on my body, rough on my spirit- my mind."

Today, she finished her twelfth and final chemotherapy session with a call for celebration in what has become a Sanford tradition. In the room where she once sat for four hours at a time to pump chemo into her body, ringing the bell was an emotional moment.

"It`s just all kinds of emotions at once. I`m so happy and I feel like I accomplished something, you know, very great. I couldn`t have done it without the support of all the nurses, doctors and my family."

Takenalive`s next mission to accomplish: a 5k run in Fargo next March.

The bell is a new tradition at the Sanford Hopsital to help motivate patients through the chemotherapy process.

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