In the final weeks of her pregnancy with their third child, Paul and Kirsten Snell of northern Winneshiek County received the devastating news that Kirsten had stage three breast cancer. Despite this, she safely delivered a baby girl and began cancer treatment at Emplify Health by Gundersen in La Crosse shortly after.
“I hoped to continue my chemotherapy infusions at WinnMed in Decorah, and my oncologist worked with their team to make that happen,” Kirsten shared.
One special moment Kirsten looked forward to was ringing a bell at her last appointment. “My mom, Ruth DeJarlais, took my wishes to heart. She very much wanted me to experience the celebratory ring when treatments were complete,” Kirsten explained.
Ruth added, “Ringing the bell after treatment is something Kirsten has known about from family members and friends who have been through it. It meant so much to her that she was willing to schedule her last chemo treatment in La Crosse, where they have a bell. Since 14 of her 16 treatments were at WinnMed and the staff there have become like family, I felt strongly that she should be able to ring the bell in her hometown.”
In her honor, the DeJarlais and Snell families purchased a bell and plaque for Kirsten, and for future WinnMed patients who complete their treatments. Its inaugural ring was on Friday, March 14, following Kirsten’s last treatment.
Marianne Stalberger, nursing supervisor of the WinnMed Surgery & Infusion unit, said, “We get to know our patients – their stories and their goals – and also get to know their families. The Snells are special, and the donation of the bell is meaningful for all of us.”
