Nurse Gul Yurdakon: Istanbul’s Angel Without Wings

In the heart of Istanbul, Gul Yurdakon has spent nearly three decades as a nurse—but her most defining moments came during the COVID-19 crisis. As head emergency nurse at her hospital, she led frontline teams through what she calls 'a storm of fear and exhaustion.'

\"We are angels without wings,\" Yurdakon told NewspaperAmigo. \"A smile from my patients gives me the strength to go on.\"

When the pandemic hit Turkey, Yurdakon became a pillar of resilience, comforting both terrified patients and overwhelmed colleagues. Her secret weapon? Empathy. \"Every life saved felt like a small victory,\" she says, reflecting on nights spent holding hands and sharing hope.

Now, as Istanbul recovers, Yurdakon’s story reminds us that heroes don’t always wear capes—sometimes, they wear scrubs.

Reference(s):

The Global Guardians: I am the happiest seeing my patients smile

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