Photo by Jim Tate Caitlin Nichols shows the engagement ring she received from Dustin Schultz following her final cancer treatment on Sept. 3.

As if the day wasn’t emotional enough.

Caitlin Nichols had just finished the last of her 12 chemotherapy sessions at the Avera Cancer Institute in Marshall and was looking forward to ringing the bell, a tradition following the end of treatment.

She vigorously rang the bell, turned around, and saw her boyfriend, Dustin Schultz, on bended knee, proposing to his bride-to-be.

And while the proposal came as a total surprise to her, most of the friends, family and Avera staff gathered to watch the bell-ringing were in on the surprise.

“I walked out and I saw my mom was crying,” said Nichols.

Her mother, Tami Ruf, was emotional for a couple of reasons — Caitlin had beat cancer, and her life was about to change.

Nichols is from the Kerkoven area and was at the cancer institute for a series of 12 chemotherapy treatments — two per month over six months — for Hodgkin lymphoma, which was discovered during a routine physical exam. She started treatments on April 10, 2024, and her final treatment was on Sept. 3. She was back recently for a check-up.

It was an arduous process. “It wasn’t the easiest regimen to get through — it was a tough treatment and it challenged her,” explained nurse practitioner Jessica Moriarty, who worked closely with Nichols during the process.

Moriarty said the treatments “take a toll physically and mentally.” Nichols’ treatments consisted of “four drugs over 12 cycles, with a booster shot the day after,” said Moriarty.

“The patient experiences nausea, aches, pains and fatigue,” she said.

So much so that Nichols sat in a wheelchair and was wheeled out to the lobby area following treatments 10 and 11.

“I wasn’t strong enough to walk, but for the last one (Dustin) asked me to walk out,” said Nichols.

He had other plans.

“I figured if she could get through that, she could get through anything,” said her betrothed.

He explained that he met Caitlin in Willmar, through friends.

“I was with buddies and she came along one night,” he recalled.

Schultz is an avid stock car driver who is busy during the racing season. He competes in the WISSOTA street stock division and races at several tracks during the week, including Montevideo, Redwood Falls, Fergus Falls or Alexandria.

“I don’t know if we had an official first date, I said she should come to the races and watch,” he said.

She did. And now she’s part of his crew, attending as many races as she can.

“I race about 40 nights during the season,” said Schultz.

The depth of her love is exemplified by the fact that she once took her white Ford Explorer to Starbuck “and filled it with 13 tires” to replenish Dustin’s inventory.

As for the proposal, Schultz said he was “very nervous.” He asked permission a couple of months prior, and the couple had casually looked at engagement rings together, but the last thing on her mind that day was a proposal.

Nichols and her mother are very appreciative of the quality of care they received at the Avera Cancer Institute, saying the personal attention and concern have led to friendships with staff members.

“We try to bring something for them (to eat) whenever we come,” said Ruf.

“It’s nice to get to know people outside of the cancer diagnosis,” said Rachel Farrell, clinic manager. “It’s also nice to know that we played a part in getting that person through it.”

And all staff members love to hear that bell ring.

“To me the ringing of the bell symbolizes hope,” said Moriarty. “My mother was a cancer survivor, and every time you hear that bell it means achievement, and hope.”

Nichols said she was a bit of a squeamish patient around doctors when she was young, but steeled herself for the cancer fight with the memory of her best friend and cousin, Derek Krueger, who died in an auto accident.

“I have his signature tattooed on my arm,” she explained. “He said fight until you can’t, and he pushed me to fight my fears — he watched over me.”

The victory over cancer has changed Nichols’ perspective on life, she said.

“Derek lived life to the fullest, and I’ve tried to do that. His death hit me hard, and now I go after what I want.”

She is appreciative of her experience at the Avera Cancer Institute, and how sets her sights on Oct. 11, when the couple will be married in Kerkoven.