“It was her light at the end of the tunnel,” said her mother, Heidi Schlegel.

But when Kali Schlegel, 24, of Fort Dodge, finished her treatments at an out-of-area hospital, there wasn’t a bell for her to ring, despite that moment being a longtime goal.

“We had celebrated different people along the way,” said Heidi Schlegel. “But when Kali was done, they had actually taken away the bell because they felt that individuals that couldn’t ring the bell, that it would be hurtful to them. We understood and respected that, but we ended up driving to another facility so that she could ring the bell because it was such an exciting moment to share.”

On Friday afternoon, Kali Schlegel stood among her family and friends again, as well as administration and staff at UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge and the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center and rang the bell again, not once, but twice. This time, the entire UnityPoint Health Trinity Regional Medical Center facility was able to celebrate with her as her family donated an electronic bell system in her honor that chimes three times campus-wide each time a cancer survivor completes treatment. It is similar to the chime that plays a lullaby when a baby is born.

-Messenger photo by Kelli Bloomquist
A plaque hangs above the bell in the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center at UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge honoring Kali Schlegel and her cancer journey.

“It brings me joy knowing that everyone else will get to participate and celebrate in moments that are life-changing like this,” said Kali Schlegel. “This changed my life in such a significant way that I understand what it’s like for it to finally be over and done with and not have to have the fear of having to go through it again. This bell means joy.”

As part of the Schlegel family’s donation, every cancer survivor finishing treatment will get to ring the symbolic bell as well as the bell heard throughout the hospital and clinics.

“The bell is something that’s really important,” said Stefanie Koenig, director of clinic operations. “We celebrate as a team with our patients after their final treatment and patients get to ring the bell to ‘ring out’ of their final step in the journey as they move into the next phase. Through conversations, we discussed how we could escalate that celebration, much like we do when babies are born. We feel like ringing the bell at the end of your treatment is equally important. While there were a lot of moving parts to get us to this point today, we are so excited for the inaugural bell ringing.”

“We knew that this was something that we wanted to do not just for our patients, but for our team members too because they are equally as excited to celebrate with patients at the end of treatments,” added Alyssa Stanek, executive director of the Trinity Foundation. “They want to be a part of it because they feel like they’re almost a part of the family, too. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you, Heidi and Jeremiah and Kali. When I got to share the news with the team, there were a lot of tears shed just out of excitement. We’re going to be able to spread joy and celebrate survivorship in a really big and more meaningful way.”

-Messenger photo by Kelli Bloomquist
Kali Schlegel stands next to the bell in the Norma Schmoker Cancer Center. Beneath the bell is a black button that when pushed plays a three bell tone throughout the hospital to let all patients, visitors, and staff know that another cancer survivor has finished treatments.

-Messenger photo by Kelli Bloomquist
This sign explains the purpose of the bell.