A Bond That Endures: Bob Windsor and Dr. Robert Donegan

For more than two decades, Bob Windsor has lived with colon cancer. In that time, he has undergone seven surgeries, multiple rounds of radiation, countless infusions, and more medical appointments than he can remember. Through it all, one constant has remained in his journey: his medical oncologist, Dr. Robert Donegan of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC.

When Bob first came to GBMC, he was facing far more than a diagnosis. Cancer brought uncertainty, fear, and physical pain. What he did not expect was to find a deep human connection with the physician who would guide him through years of treatment.

Over time, Dr. Donegan became far more than a doctor to Bob and his wife, Nancy. Their appointments often include conversations about family, life, and shared stories, along with discussions about Bob’s health.

“He’s not just my doctor,” Bob says. “He’s like a brother.”

The connection is so genuine that Bob jokes Nancy attends appointments because she is “in love with Dr. Donegan.” But behind the humor lies a deeper truth: the couple has profound trust in the physician who has cared for Bob through the highs and lows of living with cancer.

For the past sixteen years, Dr. Donegan has helped Bob navigate every stage of his treatment. There have been surgeries and recoveries, encouraging milestones and difficult setbacks. Through each chapter, the oncology team at GBMC has remained by his side.

Today, Bob continues to undergo regular scans and treatment, but he faces the future with confidence. That confidence, he says, comes not only from medical expertise, but from the relationship he has built with his care team.

Trust and compassion are just as important as clinical skill when someone is facing a serious illness. Bob believes that Dr. Donegan exemplifies the kind of physician who truly sees and supports the person behind the diagnosis.

For patients like Bob, those qualities can make an enormous difference during the most challenging moments of their lives. “I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” Bob says. 

Bob’s story is a powerful reminder that health care is about more than treatments and technology. It is about relationships built on empathy, communication, and trust.

Physicians like Dr. Donegan and the team at the Berman Cancer Institute provide more than medical care. They walk beside their patients through long journeys, offering stability, compassion, and reassurance along the way.

For Bob and his family, that kind of care has made all the difference.

This Doctors’ Day (March 30), Bob hopes others will recognize the physicians who have made an impact on their lives. “When a doctor cares like family, you feel seen…not just treated,” he says. 

By honoring physicians through support of GBMC, patients and families help ensure that compassionate care continues for others who are facing their own difficult journeys.

Honor your doctor today!