In what was likely to be the first of many surprises and celebrations on her last day of work as a nurse, Cinthia Weed happily accepted breakfast outside Vernon Jubilee Hospital Tuesday, Dec. 14.
As she joined colleagues heading into the Polson tower, Weed, who works in the recovery room, grabbed a breakfast burrito and coffee, courtesy of former VJH surgical nurse turned Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu.
鈥淚鈥檝e given her patients when she worked on the surgical floor,鈥� said Weed, retiring after 27 years of nursing, the last 25 at VJH, of Sandhu. 鈥淭his breakfast is very nice. It鈥檚 a very nice gesture on Harwinder鈥檚 part. Nice of her to plan it on my last day.鈥�
For Sandhu, handing out burritos from Gord Oh鈥檚 Food Truck, as well as coffee, tea and juice boxes, was important to show the healthcare workers they are appreciated.
鈥淲e see what they do and what they鈥檝e gone through for nearly the last two years,鈥� said Sandhu. 鈥淭here鈥檃 lot of stuff happening鈥 hear about it everyday. My husband still works here and my daughter is in support services. They tell me what鈥檚 happening.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not a single day goes by I don鈥檛 think about our healthcare workers, not only here but in the community and nursing homes and other communities. I just wanted to show a little token of appreciation and to say 鈥業 see you, I hear you and I鈥檓 here to support you any way I can.鈥欌��
All of which made Sandhu鈥檚 former Level 7 surgical floor colleague, Nurse Lindsay, feel great as she started her shift.
鈥淭his (breakfast) is lovely,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t boosts the spirit. It鈥檚 been a rough year. This is very nice.鈥�
When not doling out breakfast, Sandhu was getting caught up with former colleagues.
鈥淚t was good to see everybody, some I haven鈥檛 seen in a long time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 call VJH staff 鈥榤y family,鈥� and I also worked in community nursing in Vernon so those were my two families I had when I moved to Vernon as I didn鈥檛 have any other family here.鈥�
The breakfast at VJH was conducted at shift change so the night staff also got some food and drink as they left work.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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