Lakeridge Health says Port Perry Hospital arranged brief graduation leave for patient

According to a July 23, 2025 post on Lakeridge Health’s website, staff at Port Perry Hospital arranged for patient Alex Robinson to leave the hospital briefly on the morning of her graduation so she could attend the ceremony, then return to inpatient care that evening.

Clinicians planned a time‑limited outing while maintaining care and arranged next‑day follow‑up at Oshawa Hospital, where a nurse accompanied Robinson throughout, Lakeridge Health said.

Lakeridge Health said Robinson experienced sharp lower‑abdominal pain the day before her graduation and went to the emergency department, where she was diagnosed with a kidney infection and a kidney stone. She was admitted to Port Perry Hospital just before midnight, according to the post.

“I was so upset,” Robinson said, as quoted in the post. Her mother, Amy, said she realized early that attending might not be possible and called the event “a big milestone,” according to Lakeridge Health.

On the morning of the ceremony, one of Robinson’s doctors, Dr. Kadakia, told her, “We’re going to make this work,” the post said. The team stabilized Robinson and taped down her IV lines so they would not show under her clothes. Staff unplugged equipment and permitted the family to leave for a few hours, according to the post.

Robinson remained in a wheelchair for most of the outing, standing to walk across the stage to receive her diploma and pose for photographs with friends and family, the post said. She returned to Port Perry Hospital later that evening.

The next day, when Robinson required a procedure at Oshawa Hospital, Registered Nurse Cayla Beaton accompanied her “from start to finish,” according to Lakeridge Health.

Lakeridge Health said the family later returned to thank staff and brought a graduation photo. The post names Dr. Kadakia, Dr. Lobo, and RN Beaton among those the family recognized for their care.