DOVER – Moved by his incredible resilience, the radiation oncology staff at Mass General Cancer Center at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital honored patient John Robinson Friday, in advance of his 100th birthday on Sunday.
Staff believe Robinson is the oldest patient to receive daily treatments at the cancer center.
The team at Wentworth-Douglass decorated a hallway with balloons, streamers, and served a cake as a surprise. After staff sang him happy birthday he remarked, “Thank you very much, I’m looking forward to it!”
Robinson, who was born in 1923, lives in Durham and served in the Marine Corps in World War II. He is the father of three sons, including Dennis J. Robinson, a well-known Portsmouth historian and author.
This is his second bout with cancer, after facing prostate cancer a decade ago. He is receiving radiation therapy daily for 33 daily treatments, which began in mid-March and will finish next week. However, he arrives each day from an assisted living facility full of cheer, optimism, and joy.
Robinson spends much of his free time making intricate origami animals that he brings in for the staff as small tokens of his appreciation. He was given a $100 Amazon gift card, because he often purchases his supplies through the voice-operated virtual assistant Alexa.
Robinson is being cared for by radiation oncologist Dr. Andy Singh and radiation therapists Brittany Janos, Riselly Deoleo, and McKenna Duff. Supervisor Candace Fennessy worked with Michael Meserve, director of cancer survivorship and Wellness, on this celebration.
The celebration was funded by Amy’s Treat, a local non-profit that provides solutions to the day-to-day difficulties of living with cancer and offers unexpected “treats” to renew the spirit for patients at the MGCC at Wentworth-Douglass.
About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
Wentworth- Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a more than 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Charitable Foundation.