What’s that sound? It’s the joy of hope and relief. It’s the spirit of togetherness and celebration. It’s the confident ringing of a new bell for the Children’s National Hospital network. Commissioned by the National Bell Festival for Children’s National Rehabilitation & Specialized Care on Bunker Hill Rd. NE in Washington, D.C., the new bell will be rung whenever patients reach significant milestones in their treatment and recovery – or when kids just need a reason to smile.
The first rings echoed throughout the complex on New Year’s Eve, when the bell was unveiled during a special ceremony to celebrate the resilience of the region’s youngest patients. Hospital administrators gathered in the main lobby for brief remarks by Paul Ashe, the director of the National Bell Festival. After a flurried whisk of red satin to reveal the new bell, a jubilant clang-clang was sounded. The bell, cast in brass with a brilliant nickel finish and engraved with the beloved Dr. Bear logo, is mounted on a roving heart-shaped stand to meet patients no matter where they are across the hospital complex.
Before heading out, the National Bell Festival left greeting cards, signed by members of the Board of Directors and Bell Raisers, wishing a happy New Year to each young patient currently in residence at the hospital.
Image: Administrators, physicians, and staff at Children’s National Rehabilitation & Specialized Care celebrate the unveiling of a new bell on Dec. 31, 2024.
Image: View from above of the bell at Children’s National Rehabilitation & Specialized Care mounted on a rolling, heart-shaped stand.
Why do patients ring a bell at the hospital?
A hospital stay can be taxing on anyone, but especially for children and teens. After the uncertainty of a diagnosis, the strain of a rigorous treatment program, and the exhaustion of a stay away from home, it can be a great relief to close such a difficult chapter. The ringing of a bell is a celebration of this accomplishment.
A patient’s bell ringing ceremony is often public, including the patient's family, friends, the staff who cared for them, and other patients undergoing similar treatment. After what can be a scary and uncomfortable time, the bell represents joy, relief, accomplishment, and support. Often, a simple, inspirational poem is recited to accompany the bell ringing.
The bell is also ringable for young patients who need a bit of a pick-me-up during their ongoing treatment program. The National Bell Festival is proud to recognize moments to cheer, large and small. Each time this new bell rings, it represents a happier, healthier, and brighter tomorrow. That’s something worth ringing for!
What is Children’s National Rehabilitation & Specialized Care?
Rehabilitation & Specialized Care is a children's specialty program that services children from infancy through age 21. The specialized department within the Children’s National Hospital system provides easy access to a range of family-centered medical and therapy services to meet children’s needs.
The center also provides care for children who are leaving a traditional hospital and aren’t quite ready to be cared for at home. Rehabilitation & Specialized Care is the only pediatric program in the national capital area dedicated exclusively to providing rehabilitation and transitional care for children and adolescents.
Cover image: The new bell, gifted by the National Bell Festival, sits in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby of Children’s National Rehabilitation & Specialized Care in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 31, 2024.
