A young man who survived a brain tumor has a very special gift for other young people in remission: a bell to mark the end of treatments, the structure of which he built himself.
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“When I was in the hospital there were none. I said to myself: I will do it so that people will have a bell,” explains William Cotnoir, 19 years old.
It is customary in many hospitals for patients to ring a bell to celebrate the end of their cancer treatment.
The young man from Boisbriand was 14 years old when he found out in March 2019 that he had a brain tumor. Overcoming it required two surgeries, seven cycles of chemotherapy and 30 treatments of radiotherapy, not counting the intensive physiotherapy sessions.
In February 2020 the time had finally come for William. But there was no bell at CHU Sainte-Justine.
A long-term project
No matter, the teenager got one and started building a wooden structure himself so that the young people after him could ring it.
When he began his project more than three years ago, he was struggling with serious after-effects of his cancer and his treatments: he couldn't stand noise, light hurt his eyes, and he made a lot of involuntary movements. .
“It was easy in itself, but at first my hands were shaking. […] “I was really even more disabled than I am now, I didn't know how to do it,” recalls the man who used his time as a student to visit the community workshop Les Affûtés in Montreal.
“It was difficult,” agrees his father Stéphane Cotnoir, proud of the progress made since then.
dedication
Not only has his son's health improved significantly, he has also discovered his passion for carpentry.
William is thinking about enrolling in carpentry at DEP. He even imagines one day becoming a carpenter and building access ramps to replace the “poorly made” ones.
Beyond all expectations, he has made enough progress in his motor skills to take driving lessons.
Once the public sector strike ends, he will deliver his bell to the LEUCAN games room at the CHU Sainte-Justine.
“I’m proud,” concludes William, whose project may have taken him further than expected.
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