A Victory Bell Celebrates Healing

After undergoing several years of treatment, 9-year-old Rylie Richards on Jan. 26 enthusiastically rang a Victory Bell at Children’s National to celebrate her victory in battling leukemia. The bell was made possible by Rylie’s friends and family, and given to Children’s National so that other children can proudly ring it once they have completed their own cancer treatment. They were inspired by a Victory Bell Rylie saw at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she was first diagnosed before her family moved to DC.

It was appropriate that Rylie was the first child to ring the bell at Children’s National, with her oncologist, Dr. Anne Angiolillo, parents, Tracie and Kelly, and brother, Evan, standing by her side. After Rylie rang it, two young boys stepped up to ring in their own victories in finishing treatment that very day. Tracie remarked, "It is truly a gift to be able to watch those children ring the bell. That is a moment in my life I will cherish forever. Giving really is so much better than getting.” Under the bell is a plate with special casting with this quote: "Yours is a story so brave and so true…And life is awaiting the hero in you. -Sunni Chapman Watch a video clip of Rylie's milestone moment.