A Graduation to Remember: How the Port Perry Hospital Supported a Milestone Moment

The day before graduation was supposed to be filled with excitement and anticipation. But for Alex Robinson, it started on the couch with sharp pain in her lower abdomen and ended in the emergency room with a kidney infection and a kidney stone.

Just before midnight, the day before she was supposed to cross the stage and graduate, Alex was admitted to the Port Perry Hospital. It didn't take long for the devastating possibility to set in: she might miss graduation.  

“I was so upset,” said Alex. “My Grade 8 graduation was just a quick walk in front of the school because of COVID. I couldn’t believe I was going to miss this one too.” 

Her mom, Amy, could see the heartbreak setting in. 

“I think I realized before she did that she was probably going to miss graduation,” said Amy. “That kind of devastation stays with you. It’s not just one day, it’s a big milestone.” 

That’s when the care team at the Port Perry Hospital stepped in; not just with medicine, but with heart. 

On graduation morning, one of Alex’s doctors, Dr. Kadakia, made a promise: “We’re going to make this work.” From there, the team quickly coordinated a plan to get Alex safely to the ceremony, even if just for a few hours. 

The team made sure she was stable and comfortable and taped down her IV lines so they wouldn’t show under her clothes. At home, Amy rushed to find something for Alex to wear. “She was still in the pajamas we brought her in,” she laughed. “But eventually we got her dressed, they unplugged everything, and we were allowed to leave for a few hours.” 

Alex stayed in a wheelchair most of the time, except for the one moment that mattered most: walking across the stage. She crossed the stage, received her diploma, and posed for photos with friends and family. 

That evening, Alex returned to the hospital, but now with a memory she would never forget.  

But the team didn’t stop there. The next day, when Alex needed a procedure at the Oshawa Hospital, Registered Nurse Cayla Beaton accompanied her from start to finish.  

“I was blown away,” said Amy. “They went completely above and beyond.” 

Alex and her family still remember the names: Dr. Kadakia, Dr. Lobo, Cayla, and many others whose care and kindness defined the experience.  

Later, Alex and her family returned to the hospital with thank-you cards, a graduation photo, and a charcuterie board as a token of appreciation for the team who made it all possible.