We had the pleasure of meeting Vandian under difficult circumstances when she was our daughter's allocated nurse in ITU. Vandian nursed our daughter S on two shifts (once daytime and once at night) during the six days that S spent in ITU after her life support was withdrawn.
Although we received kindness from other nurses, Vandian's approach stood out from the outset. After introducing herself, she spent a little time getting to know us before going on to explain that S was her patient, but we were her concern also. She was cheerful, outgoing, but in a way that was entirely appropriate to the situation. Vandian's conversation was an invaluable support in seeing us through a very difficult period when there were just the two of us (my wife and I) beside S, neither of us wanting to leave. Vandian went out of her way to ensure that hot food was ordered for us and that it arrived.
Once our son was able to re-join us at S's side things became a little easier and we then felt able to take turns in visiting the café. However, without Vandian's proactive involvement, that early period would have been considerably more difficult.
Vandian provided just the right balance of compassion, concern, and cheerfulness. It almost goes without saying that she carried out her clinical tasks in an exemplary and gentle manner and always took the trouble to address S, despite our daughter's deeply unconscious state.
Vandian Patel is a credit to an excellent department.