It’s common to hear the sound of a gong when walking near the Blessing Cancer Center. Patients have the opportunity to ring the gong to signify the end of their treatment. But when the gong sounded Tuesday morning, July 2, it echoed through the Center more loudly than usual. It was the sound of celebration times two.
The gong was rung by two survivors during the same ceremony – Jerry Campbell and Kirk Huckey. The men know each other, Kirk’s son is married to Jerry’s granddaughter.
“But we never spent much time together, until now,” Jerry said.
“Jerry found out I had prostate cancer, and he did, too.,” Kirk added. “He texted me. The text said it was from Jerry. I texted back, ‘Jerry who?’ He replied, ‘Jerry Campbell’ and we’ve been riding together to treatment for the past six weeks.”
On July 2, the men made the trip together again to the Blessing Cancer Center, this time for their last treatment. Kirk of Revere, Missouri, and Jerry from Canton, Missouri, then rang the gong during the same survivor celebration, followed by hugs and congratulations from the Cancer Center staff.
“I’ve not run into someone with a bad attitude or somebody that doesn’t show that they care,” Jerry said of his experience at the Center. “These people are some of the nicest and friendliest. They made an unpleasant situation very tolerable and actually enjoyable.”
"Everybody’s been excellent,” Kirk added.
“If this had to happen, I’m glad it happened here,” Jerry concluded. “This team is great. I’d recommend them to anybody.”