Brenda Coffin got to ring the bell in the Oncology Department at Penticton Regional Hospital.

That香蕉视频直播檚 how many cancer patients celebrate the end of their chemotherapy treatment at PRH. The bell is engraved with the words: 香蕉视频直播淣ever give up, never surrender.香蕉视频直播�

For Coffin, she had the added bonus of having her parents and two daughters on hand for the occasion.

Her family香蕉视频直播檚 story started on Christmas Eve 2015, when Coffin香蕉视频直播檚 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 parents香蕉视频直播� home in Vernon on Boxing Day. She would soon undergo a mastectomy.

香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� much to her mom香蕉视频直播檚 chagrin.

香蕉视频直播淪he was telling me to go to bed at about 10:30, but I said: 香蕉视频直播楴o, I have to make it perfect,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� 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. 香蕉视频直播淭hen I decided that maybe I can make some people happy at the hospital if I still wore it,香蕉视频直播� Gracie explained. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people mentioned it and started smiling.香蕉视频直播�

Brenda said having her daughters stop by for her final treatment was great.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e my sweeties,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲hen I first told them I had cancer, they said: 香蕉视频直播楳om, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to help you, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to get you through this.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Brenda noted her sister香蕉视频直播檚 experience battling cancer helped her as well.

香蕉视频直播淚 was able to use that as a reassurance that we would get through this, just as Aunty Peggy did,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 just amazing doctors and staff here in Penticton. I was just so impressed 香蕉视频直播� from the lab techs to getting my mammogram 香蕉视频直播� everybody has been absolutely amazing, especially the oncology team.香蕉视频直播�

Brenda said as difficult as her cancer has been, she realizes it could have been much worse.

香蕉视频直播淎s tough as it has been, it香蕉视频直播檚 not as tough as it could have been,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 know there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of people going through a lot worse. You count your blessings every day.香蕉视频直播�

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.