The DAISY Award was given out for the first time by Mesa View Hospital (MVH) to LaRene Woolstenhulme, RN. Hospital patients nominate their favorite nurse and tell why they are exceptional.

Maria Sandoval nominated Woolstenhulme for the award. Sandoval said, “She treated me like a human and not a number. She always asked if I needed anything. She washed my face and hands every morning for me.” Tearfully, Sandoval added, “You don’t know how much that means to a patient. My experience here was very good.”

Woolstenhulme said, “I was very surprised and honored, but I really was just doing my job to care for my patients.” She said she likes working at MVH better than a larger hospital. Woolstenhulme has worked at Mesa View in critical care since it opened in 2002.

The DAISY Award Foundation was started in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of an autoimmune disease. The family was so appreciative of the extraordinary care he received from Barnes’ nurses that they thanked them with this recognition, which has since grown into a very meaningful program embraced by thousands of health care organizations around the world. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The award consists of a certificate, a DAISY pin and a small, hand-carved sculpture of “The Healer’s Touch” made of serpentine stone and signed by the Zimbabwe artist who carved it.

The award ceremony ended with everyone enjoying fresh-made cinnamon rolls. The rolls are a tribute to Barnes, as they were the only thing he would eat in his last days, and he asked his family to bring some in for the nurses, too. Now, cinnamon rolls are a tradition along with the award.

Rob Fuller, director of marketing, was there to coordinate everything and made sure all in attendance had a chuckle at a joke or two. The hospital plans to continue with the yearly DAISY awards.