Sunday, October 19, 2014
Photo
D'Wayne Robinson holds a photo of his wife, Teresa, who passed away April 27, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.
By Sean Barron
CANFIELD
111“My wife said, ‘D’Wayne, I found a lump.’ I said, ‘Lots of women have that. Don’t jump to the worst conclusion,’” he remembered.
The lump, however, had quickly grown to the size of a golf ball. In addition, Teresa’s family doctor was certain she had a fast-growing, aggressive form of cancer, he explained, adding that she later underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments after having been diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2010.
At one point, her health seemed to improve, but a short time later, tissue samples indicated that the cancer had not gone into remission, Robinson explained. In February 2013, her condition deteriorated and tumors had formed throughout her body, he said.
On April 27, 2013, Teresa died from the disease. She was 48.
Robinson spoke recently from his West Calla Road home about how his wife’s illness — and determination to beat it — resulted in countless get-well tokens, a special tree and a children’s book. The experience also led to a major shift in his priorities.
Robinson, who met his wife in high school in Richlands, Va., said she was determined not to succumb to the cancer and, despite grim prospects, continued to teach gifted elementary-school students and perform many other duties at Heartland Christian School in Columbiana.
“There was never a job beneath her,” added Robinson, who started a business called Sentry One Services LLC, which rates service-providers’ performances based on customer-opinion surveys.
During his wife’s three-year battle with breast cancer, thousands of cards, handmade gifts and other keepsakes began pouring in, which prompted Robinson to erect a “Luvya” tree in his living room, on which he displayed the tokens. In addition, Robinson and his son, Jared, use pieces of the tree to encourage other families who are dealing with the disease.
He also penned a children’s book titled “The Luvya Tree” (WestBow Press of Bloomington, Ind., $16.95).
The book was published last June and is to memorialize Teresa, Robinson explained. It tells the story of how father and son cut down a sapling, placed it in their home and used it to hold the get-well cards like Christmas ornaments.
Earlier this month, Robinson said, he conducted a reading and book-signing ceremony at Heartland and was surprised when several elementary-school students presented a “Luvya” tree they had made for him. The replica contains a variety of drawings, well wishes and cards, including one that reads, “Your book is better than Cedar Point!”
“What an awesome way to show someone they’re loved,” he said, fighting back tears.
This year, Teresa was honored in a few other ways: A bench was erected in her honor at the school, and Robinson was selected to be the commencement speaker last June during their son’s graduation ceremony.
Dealing with the ups and downs of his wife’s illness caused Robinson to take a five-year hiatus from corporate life and re-evaluate what’s truly important, he said.
“Through that journey, I don’t see the world as I did before,” he added. “There are a lot more important things than the next step up the ladder.”