Congratulations to Our August Daisy Award Recipients

The Daisy Award, established by the Daisy Foundation, was created in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who tragically passed away from complications of an autoimmune disease. During his hospitalization, Patrick's family was deeply touched by the extraordinary care and kindness shown by his nurses. To honor his memory and express their gratitude, they established the Daisy Award to celebrate the remarkable work of nurses around the world. The Daisy Award has become a symbol of excellence in nursing, highlighting the selfless dedication and exceptional skills demonstrated by nurses in providing care to their patients.

DAISY Recipient:Annie Mantsch
Department:Emergency Department
Nominated by:Patient’s Mother

From the Patient’s Mom: "I would like to nominate Annie for the DAISY Award, recognizing her for the exceptional compassion and quick response she delivered to our daughter. During our recent trip to the ER, we had the privilege of experiencing care under Annie, whose demonstrated skill and empathy truly exemplify what it means to be a nurse.

On July 22, my eight-year-old daughter arrived at the Emergency Room with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and an elevated heart rate. After triage, labs and an IV were ordered. During this process, Nurse Annie was called in to assist with the lab draw and IV insertion. Annie approached my daughter with remarkable care, calmly explaining each step involved in inserting the IV line and drawing blood. This thoughtful communication not only addressed the physical needs of my daughter but also significantly alleviated her anxiety, making a daunting procedure much more manageable.

After the lab work, while we were walking back to the lobby, my daughter became nauseous and felt like she was going to vomit. I was holding an emesis bucket and trying to manage her distress when she began to pass out. Before I could even ask for help, Annie recognized the situation, rushed over, and swooped my daughter into her arms. She carried her to a room and promptly checked her vitals. Throughout this experience, Annie continued to talk to my daughter, explaining the process of taking her vitals with the blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter. She made sure that my daughter felt secure and informed, which was incredibly comforting during such a frightening time.

Following an ultrasound and CT scan, my daughter was exhausted. When her dad came to check on her, he asked how she was feeling. She excitedly told him about the nurse with the little dolphin tattoo and pretty, long blonde hair who had “saved her life.” She told him how she was trying so hard to stand because she was scared to hit her head when she felt her legs give out and was thankful Annie caught her. As a child with an autoimmune disease, my daughter has had several hospital stays and ER visits, and these visits can be a scary experience. However, Annie’s compassionate and skilled approach not only addressed the immediate medical needs but also provided emotional support that made a significant difference in my daughter’s experience. From my daughter to the nurse with the little dolphin tattoo and pretty, long blonde hair, thank you! From her parents, thank you for making her feel safe at a time when we couldn’t. We appreciate you."

DAISY Nurse Leader Recipient:Sonia Sharma
Department:3 West
Nominated by:Patient

From Co-Worker: “I met Sonia when she was in nursing school over 20 years ago. When I saw her, I knew whom she was. I was so happy to see a familiar face! She immediately came and acknowledged me with so much comfort. She told me as charge nurse she would make sure that I would get all the help I need to get well. She was so reassuring and genuinely concerned for my well-being. She said she would keep an eye on me and help me anyway she could. She comforted me with so much compassion. Although she was very busy, she would peek in on me and made me feel like someone was always there for me. She treated me with so much respect and apologized for all the discomfort my pain was causing. Sonia made me feel better just knowing she was there! As far as I know she's an excellent nurse with genuine compassion. I'll be telling everyone that I received excellent care. Sonia should get the DAISY award as she has been extraordinarily gracious, kind, and professional! Thank you to the entire angels of mercy staff, but mostly thank you to Sonia!”

DAISY Team Award:3 West and 3 Main
Nominated by:Patient’s Family, Mikah and Maria

From the Patient’s Family: "My grandmother, Maria E. Mendoza, was brought into the hospital in late November. On December 7, 2023, she decided to discontinue treatment and enter hospice. I stayed with my grandmother overnight, along with my mother, to keep her company. Nurse Mai was the first nurse to provide care that night, and she showed such compassion, kindness, and thoughtfulness when determining how to keep my grandmother comfortable. My grandmother was barely able to speak, but Nurse Mai would come in through the night to talk to her, explain what she was doing, and ask questions. She made us and my grandmother feel safe and in great hands.

CNA Melissa was on my grandmother’s shift multiple nights and days before she decided to go on comfort care. Melissa spoke Spanish with my grandmother, talked to her about her day, how she was feeling, combed her hair, and made sure she was comfortable. She also translated for her when a family member couldn't be there. My grandmother personally advised us of how kind Melissa was to her and how she took care of her like she was a family member herself.

When my grandmother was moved from 3 West to 3 Main, she was cared for by many CNAs and RNs. However, Nurse Lindsey, Mina, and Monique were exceptional. These three nurses not only dealt with family tension in the room but also with a patient who was slowly dying. Although the situation had a difficult outcome, they treated my grandmother with such kindness and dignity throughout the dying process. They took the time to speak with my mother, Maria, some nights, and listened to her about my grandmother’s home life and diagnosis.

When my grandmother did pass, they found us before leaving to offer condolences and hugs, making us feel like we were going to be okay. Little moments like showing us how they were going to clean my grandmother, explaining what they were giving her, helping us decide if she was in any pain and needed more medication, and joining in conversations with the doctor as support were greatly appreciated. They shared their experiences with patients on comfort care and helped us process the situation.

After nine long days on comfort care, with no dialysis, no urination, and no food or water, my grandmother passed on 12/15/23. Although my grandmother had been in and out of the hospital many times over the last six years, this stay was different. She didn’t get to come home with us. I will say, with many stories of the hospital, I could not be more thankful to the nursing staff on-site who helped not only my grandmother but also my family through this transition. These staff members were exceptional in every way, and I can only hope that as supervisors and administrators, they feel thankful to have such wonderful employees who are the face of the hospital for family members. They are extremely intelligent and earned a lot of respect from my family and me. We want to send a special thank you to the staff on floor 3 West and 3 Main for their compassion and kindness. My grandmother would want us to ensure that each nurse received a thank you and a hug."