COEUR d’ALENE — "Ring this bell three times well to celebrate this day. The course has run, my treatment's done and I am on my way."

These are the words posted above the new bell that was installed in Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services infusion center in Coeur d'Alene.

The bell was donated by chemotherapy graduate Erin Peters with the help of kind-hearted organizations and people in the community. Peters was the first to ring the bell when she celebrated her last infusion Thursday.

Peters, who was diagnosed in January with invasive high grade ductal carcinoma, made it her personal mission to have the bell placed in the center as a symbol of hope for others traveling down the difficult and emotional path of cancer and treatment. Patients who have their last infusion can ring the bell after their final treatment on their way out of the center, hopefully never to return.

"When I found out the center didn't have a bell, I was pretty bummed because I have always heard of that being a tradition to do at the end of treatment," Peters told The Press via text message. "Once I decided I wanted to buy one, it was definitely exciting to know I was going to get to do that also. But what brought me the most joy was knowing that I was going to bring that excitement and joy to other people as well by donating the bell to the center."

Peters said the thought of ringing the bell and finally being done with her treatment brought her to tears, "but they were tears of joy and I will now be able to share that with so many others who have fought hard down the same road I did and they will get to ring that bell and hear that same exciting noise on their last day."

When Peters rang the bell, she was surrounded by her family and the infusion center staff, all who shared in her emotions and have supported her on her journey.

"It was a lot of tears," said Tolli Willhite, outreach coordinator for Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services of Coeur d'Alene. "We become attached to our patients and their families. This is a very intimate and personal journey for people. When our staff shares that journey along the way, it's tearful for everybody."

Peters’ mom, Ginger Harmala, said it was indeed an emotional moment when her daughter rang the bell.

"All the nurses have been so kind to my daughter," she said. "To see that bell up on the wall makes us so proud of the future of everyone involved in the struggles and victories for the others."