By Bob Braddy
The bells were ringing for the morning service at Main Street United Methodist Church in Dillon last Sunday, February 16th, but they were not the bells in the steeple. They were the tinkling of the many tiny bells on the face of the banner which had been prepared to welcome and give thanks to God for Lacy McIntyre, the seven-year-old daughter of Marty and Salley McIntyre.
On August 19, 2013, Lacy was ready to begin her first day of the first grade at East Elementary School. Her parents received the frightening news from The Cancer Clinic at MUSC that recent tests had confirmed their young daughter had Hodgkins Lymphoma, and treatment needed to begin immediately.
Thus began her long period of treatment. Chemo, then radiation. Finally, last Friday, she had her last radiation treatment and was told that she did not have to return until mid-March for a check-up. A later test will determine if the dread disease has indeed been cured. There is a custom at the MUSC Cancer Clinic that when their patients have received their last treatment, they get to “ring the bell.” Lacy got to ring the bell and so the bells were ringing for her when the banner proceeded down the aisle.
What about her school, which had been so abruptly interrupted before it could begin? Good news! Lacy had sone so well with the home schooling she has received that it is possible she can return to East Elementary  in the fall as a second grader with her classmates.
The church bulletin that morning contained an insert which read: “This bell banner gives thanks and praise to our all-loving heavenly Father for his unfailing grace and care for Lacy McIntyre, her family, indeed for all of us in all circumstances.”