Candy Roach, a nurse practitioner at the Vandalia Health CAMC Memorial Hospital patient access center, demonstrated an extraordinary act of compassion and humanitarianism when a patient arrived unexpectedly from dialysis after experiencing a malfunction with his dialysis access.
The patient and his son had traveled for several hours from southern West Virginia.
During the intake process, the patient’s son shared that they were facing severe food insecurity having only eaten a small piece of toast before leaving for dialysis and was unsure when they would eat again.
Recognizing the urgency of their situation, Lori Dickerson, a health unit coordinator, promptly provided the son with a meal box and drinks to address his immediate needs and reassured the patient that food would be available after his procedure.
During her personal lunch hour, Roach bought several bags of groceries that could be easily prepared, ensuring the family would have several meals once they returned home.
This compassion, empathy and dedication to caring for the whole person not only met the patient’s physical needs but also offered hope, dignity and comfort in a moment of vulnerability.
These acts of selflessness and kindness serve as shining examples of the values of respect, compassion and integrity.