A Bell of Hope Rings for the Future

On July 27, as the doors of MetroHealth's new Outpatient Health Center open to patients, two clear bell chimes will continue to echo through its halls. They are the sounds of courage, perseverance and hope.

During the opening celebration for the new Outpatient Health Center, including the new Cancer Center, two MetroHealth patients – Dr. Natoya Walker Minor and Terissa Conner – became the first people to ring the cancer-survivorship bell in the building. Standing alongside Bernadette McQuigg, Executive Director of the Cancer Institute, they transformed a ribbon-cutting ceremony into something far more meaningful: a reminder of why this place exists.

The new Cancer Center brings together medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion services and multidisciplinary clinics in one coordinated space, improving both access and the experience for patients like Natoya and Terissa.

Natoya never imagined she would hear the word “cancer.”

In November 2025, what she believed was simple weight gain turned out to be endometrial cancer. Trusting her instincts, she sought answers and found a care team that responded with expertise, compassion and urgency. Her longtime physician, Dr. Phil Shuffert, connected her quickly with Dr. Donald Wiper, Chief of Gynecologic Oncology, and treatment began.

On May 26, 2026, she rang the bell marking the completion of chemotherapy.

Sharing her story during the celebration, Natoya spoke about the fear of diagnosis, the importance of self-advocacy and the power of a healthcare team that listens. She also reflected on the support she received from family, friends, church members and others who surrounded her with encouragement throughout treatment.

"I rang that bell. I thought of everyone who sent a kind word, card, books, puzzles, text or a call," she said.

For Terissa, the journey began with a routine mammogram.

After learning she had cancer, Terissa faced chemotherapy, surgery and radiation with determination and faith. She credits her MetroHealth care team, including Dr. Natalie Joseph, with helping her navigate every step of treatment. Today, she has been cancer-free since July 2025.

A mother of two and grandmother of five, Terissa says family is her greatest motivation. Having lost her own mother at a young age, she treasures every opportunity to be present for those she loves. With her daughter nearby during the ceremony, she stepped forward to ring the bell and celebrate a future she once feared might be uncertain.

The bell-ringing tradition marks the completion of treatment and serves as a powerful symbol of resilience, healing and hope. When Natoya and Terissa rang their bells, the crowd responded with emotional applause.

In that moment, the opening celebration became about the lives touched inside it – patients facing frightening diagnoses, families seeking reassurance and caregivers delivering expert, compassionate care.

Why These Stories Matter

The new Outpatient Health Center was designed to improve coordination, convenience and access to care for the community. Within it, the Cancer Center and Center for Breast Health bring services together to help patients move more seamlessly from diagnosis through treatment.

For philanthropic supporters, the stories of Natoya and Terissa are a reminder that every act of generosity ultimately supports people. While buildings provide the space for healing, donor support helps advance programs, services, patient resources and innovations that strengthen the care experience. Those investments help ensure that patients receive high-quality care and the compassion, support and hope they need along the way.

As the first patients begin arriving on July 27, the inaugural bell ringing by Natoya and Terissa stands as a powerful symbol of what MetroHealth strives to provide every day: expert care, human connection and the promise that no one faces their journey alone.

For more information, please contact Greg Sanders, Vice President of Philanthropy, at 440-592-1319 and gsanders@metrohealth.org. Make an online gift here.