Adrienne Harrell, RN

Some nurses treat patients. The very best nurses care for entire families. Adrienne is one of those nurses.

When our family was unexpectedly thrown into a medical emergency while on vacation hundreds of miles from home, her compassion, honesty, advocacy, and genuine kindness carried us through one of the most difficult situations to navigate. She didn’t just care for my husband; she cared for our entire family.

My husband and I were on a family vacation in Pigeon Forge with our two young children, hundreds of miles from home in St. Louis, when he was suddenly admitted to the hospital with an obstructing kidney stone that required emergency surgery. While I was trying to get our children settled and find a way to the hospital, I felt completely helpless. That’s when Adrienne stepped in.

Adrienne took the time to speak with me over the phone while I was frantically trying to arrange childcare and transportation. She answered my questions honestly, calmed my fears, and made me feel like I wasn’t navigating the situation alone.

When my husband was taken to surgery before I could arrive, she made sure I was able to get to him beforehand, something that meant more to our family than I can ever adequately express. Because of her determination and compassion, I was able to see him before he went into the operating room. That moment is something I will treasure forever.

While he was in surgery, Adrienne didn’t disappear to simply check boxes or complete tasks. She stayed with me. She kept me company, talked with me, answered every question with honesty, and acknowledged the uncertainty without ever making me feel afraid. She treated me like family instead of just another visitor sitting in a patient room.

When my husband returned from surgery, Adrienne continued to provide exceptional care. She anticipated his needs, managed his pain with genuine concern, and never once made us feel like we were an inconvenience. Every interaction reflected kindness, professionalism, and an unmistakable passion for nursing.

What impressed me most was her advocacy. Knowing we were stranded away from home in the middle of a family vacation with two small children, she worked tirelessly to help facilitate a timely discharge once it was medically appropriate. She understood that our situation extended beyond the hospital walls, and she fought for what was best for our family while never compromising my husband's care. That level of advocacy cannot be taught; it comes from a nurse whose heart is completely invested in her patients.

In healthcare, technical skills save lives, but compassion heals hearts. Adrienne possesses both in abundance. During one of the most stressful experiences our family has ever faced, she gave us peace, hope, comfort, and confidence. She reminded us that extraordinary nursing is about far more than medications and procedures; it’s about making people feel seen, heard, cared for, and never alone.

Long after his surgery is just a memory, we will remember Adrienne. We will remember the nurse who stayed on the phone with a scared wife, who made sure I reached my husband before surgery, who sat beside me while I waited, who advocated for our family, and who cared for my husband as though he were her own loved one.

Adrienne embodies everything the DAISY Award was created to recognize. Her compassion, dedication, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to her patients deserve to be celebrated. If anyone deserves this honor, it is her.

Our family will never forget the difference she made in our lives. Because of Adrienne, a vacation that started out as one we will never forget for a not-so-good reason became one we will also remember for the extraordinary kindness of a nurse we will never forget.