Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved family member. As I shed my few tears of sorrow at her passing I know that you feel her loss so much more deeply than I, so I wish you every support that you need.
Dr. V (as I called her) was always friendly but very no-nonsense, practical, efficient and effective. The oncologist is often called on to deliver hard news to families so the conversation can be fraught with pitfalls. Dr. V never put herself above the patients, but spoke to them on a human level. This let them know they could trust her and that she cared. While she did not sugar-coat the truth, she was compassionate and shared her most precious commodity with them: her time, which families crave at such a difficult juncture. It made all the difference in getting the best outcome for the patient.
Dr. V. always had a smile and kind word for me in passing, even when we no longer worked together. I am sad that we will no longer cross paths in the hospital hallways. I feel regret that she is not at our institution busily making her rounds, thinking of new ways to help our patients and advancing the mission toward a cure. But I am comforted knowing that she used every minute of every day of her work to make a difference. She contributed to our cause and everyone, both patients and colleagues are better for Dr.Varadhachary having been here. She made a difference.
Again, my deepest condolences on this loss to your family but also the loss to the MD Anderson family. We have all lost a bright and shining star.