A retired nurse, Linda Quinn had worked with cancer patients before. But she never imagined that one day she would be the one sitting in a chair taking chemotherapy.
That all changed when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2024. The following month, she began her journey as a patient at Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute. The chemotherapy treatments were tough, but at the clinic Quinn found support and something she didn’t expect: friendship.
“First of all, I just need to say that all the volunteers are extremely, extremely special people,” Quinn said. “They all bring you some comfort, they all bring you some hope, they all bring a massive amount of compassion. It’s a very caring atmosphere. You don’t feel so isolated.”
But Quinn formed a bond with one volunteer in particular: Sam Robbin. The day the two met, Quinn happened to glance up and see Robbin walking toward her. Robbin smiled — “a genuine, kind smile,” she recalled — and it brought her sense of calm.
“That was my first indication of if he likes me, and we get along, we are going to be really good friends,” Quinn recalled.
Robbin also felt the connection, and he understood how Quinn and the other patients felt. Robbin and his wife had always been big supporters of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. They became involved with the organization after his wife’s sister was diagnosed with melanoma and succumbed to the disease at 30 years old.
About 14 years into their fundraising efforts for Relay for Life, Robbin himself was diagnosed with cancer.
“I went through my treatment and walked as a survivor that following year,” Robbin said.
The couple continued their work with Relay for Life, even having the Medevac company they owned sponsor events. About four years ago, they sold the company and moved to Wilmington. Robbin had plans for his retirement, and of them included volunteering with cancer patients. That’s why he contacted Novant about volunteering at Zimmer.
Robbin, now approaching his second year as a volunteer, looks forward to the times when he can help turn a patient’s day around, much like he did for Quinn.
“It’s phenomenal to be able to have the patient interaction, and our goal is to make it more comfortable for them, and if we can have them smile or laugh or go through that day better, then it’s a home run for us,” Robbin said.
Many times, Robbin can draw from his own patient experience and offer suggestions or encouragement. That’s something Quinn appreciated.
“Now, when you sit in a chair for five or six hours at a time, it can be extremely, extremely isolating,” Quinn said. “But Sam made sure that I felt seen, that I felt valued, that I felt cared for,” Quinn said.
She noted that many times, he didn’t ask her if she was thirsty or if she needed a snack, he just brought one.
“He’s the most compassionate person,” Quinn said.
Robbin admitted that when some people learn that he volunteers at Zimmer, they often question his decision because they think it’s “depressing.” But he corrects them, saying that it’s actually a place filled with hope, and he notes that hope can be powerful for those who are fighting.
“I felt that it may help for them to see somebody that’s a cancer survivor while they’re fighting theirs,” he said. “I know it helped me to see that. It gave me some comfort; it gave me courage. I could see the light there.”
Quinn has now finished her treatment, she’s in remission. She’s grateful for the care she received, and especially for Robbin’s encouragement and friendship.
“I will never forget you,” she told him. “You are in every prayer I say.”
Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].