I believe Deepa Kurup is a well deserving recipient of the DAISY Award. She is a hard working, dedicated employee of VCUHS for the past five and a half years. Her clinical skills and her compassionate care of patients suffering from kidney failure are both exceptional. She is truly a role model in the dialysis unit through the numerous ways she has provided kindhearted care to the patients on dialysis and their families.
Deepa is passionate about life as well as her nursing career. She was born in India where she studied English as well as attending college there, pursuing a nursing degree. After graduation, Deepa worked for an international nurse recruiting company in which she coordinated job placement of nurses in the United States. After sometime, Deepa decided to make a huge step by taking a RN position at VCUHS, leaving behind her family.
I want to share one example of why I believe Deepa is deserving of the DAISY Award. I share this example because of the enormous difference she made in the life of one of our dialysis patients. Deepa had worked with Mr. G upon many occasions. She had educated him on the various dialysis therapies and types of vascular access needed for each therapy. Mr. G was an unusual case. He was a patient who came to the US from India on a visa. After his arrival in the US, it was discovered that Mr. G suffered from kidney failure and required dialysis. Mr. G’s visa hence expired, and he remained in the US without any funds to return to his home country. He was destitute.
Deepa took great compassion in working with Mr. G. She role modeled kindness and sincerity in treating Mr. G holistically and in non-judgmental ways. Deepa spoke with Mr. G about returning to India, although he had no financial means to accomplish this great task.
She was at the forefront of interdisciplinary collaborations in long-term planning of Mr. G’s dialysis care. Deepa collaborated with the social worker in seeking funds to assist Mr. G in returning to India. She also collaborated with the dialysis attending in coordinating dialysis care for Mr. G upon his return to India. Deepa contacted a nephrologist in India, who was willing to take Mr. G as his patient. Mr. G had financial concerns as well, in paying for his dialysis treatments upon return to India. Deepa contacted the MKF Charitable Trust (the Mumbai Kidney Foundation in India) and they agreed to help support Mr. G financially until he could obtain employment in India.
Deepa was consulted by the medical team a number of times to translate with Mr. G regarding his return to India and planned medical regimen for dialysis. She went above and beyond in anticipating Mr. G’s needs throughout the health care continuum. She took extraordinary measures in the care of a kidney patient and sought optimal care in what otherwise would have been a dismal and hopeless situation.
After much planning, coordinating, and solicitation of funding for airfare, Mr. G was able to return home, to India. This is an amazing example of Deepa’s compassion, kindness, and passion for making a difference in the life of one patient. Mr. G will never forget Deepa and how she went far above her job responsibilities to make such a positive impact on his life, in the midst of dealing with a life-long chronic illness. This truly was a story of success, compassion and kindness…because of Deepa.