Talanoa Dr Parma Nand, a renowned Auckland heart surgeon who had saved hundreds of lives in Fiji, passed away at the age of 64. His life was filled with compassion and dedication to helping others.

Talanoa Aaron Cooper, an Aucklander who suffered critical injuries during a speedway crash on New Year's Eve 2007, spoke about how Dr Nand saved his life. "Dr Nand had just finished a double shift when I was wheeled in," Cooper said. He recalled being knocked out and having a heart attack while lying on the wall of the track. His heart stopped as he arrived at the hospital, but a paramedic managed to drain the blood from around his heart before he could be rushed to an emergency room.

Talanoa Dr Nand was waiting in the emergency room when Cooper was wheeled in. He jumped straight into action and performed a life-saving operation on him. Cooper remembers feeling alive during one of Dr Nand's procedures, as he explained that he was doing his best to operate. When Cooper woke up, Dr Nand was sitting next to his bed, holding his hand and thanking him.

Talanoa Cooper spent the remainder of his hospital stay in a spinal unit after suffering a severe back injury during the crash. On the day he was discharged from the hospital, he encountered Dr Nand for the first time. The man who had saved his life stood at the door, where Cooper said, 'I put my hand out to shake his hand. He said, 'I've had your heart in my hands. I'll have a hug.''

Talanoa Dr Nand often traveled to Fiji to perform life-saving surgeries for locals, covering their medical costs without charging anything extra. Cooper's daughter was just 10 days old when the crash occurred, and she is now 17 years old. His other daughter, who came into his life at age 11 in 2014, recently had her own child. Without Dr Nand's intervention, Cooper said he wouldn't have been able to become a father to either of his daughters.

Talanoa Dr Nand's friends and colleagues are organizing a memorial service for him this month. His legacy continues to inspire those who knew him, as he dedicated his life to saving lives and improving healthcare around the world.