A text message was sent from the patient’s granddaughter; it read:

“There was this one nurse, I forget her name, unfortunately, but right before my grandfather was taken to hospice, she was just so amazing, and you could tell my grandfather was in awe of her, she just looked right into his eyes with this sweetest smile and talked to him so sweetly to calm him down, and he looked so at peace looking at her. It’s one of the last images I have in my head of him before he went unconscious at hospice. 

I wish I knew her name to thank her but maybe you would know who she was, she was in Davenport 7 and had really long lashes and looks really young and I think she had reddish brown hair. If you know her and could thank her for us, this specific nurse was just so amazing to my grandfather and I’m so grateful she was the last nurse to take care of him as he was sent off to hospice.

I’ll never forget how sweet she was to him; she was like an angel!  We are so grateful she was there in his final conscious moments!”

I had the honor of speaking to the Nurse Director to identify this nurse.  As it turns out, Ally Walters, RN, is a new graduate nurse on D7.  When she read the text, she had tears in her eyes and remembered her patient.  She thanked me for sharing the message from his granddaughter, and she said it meant so much to her.

I then asked his granddaughter if I could nominate Ally for the DAISY Award. She asked why this award is given.  I explained briefly about Patrick Barnes and his family and how the nursing care Patrick received was filled with kindness, compassion, and sensitivity, which meant everything to those who loved him.  

She smiled and expressed her gratitude because that is what Ally gave her grandfather, and she will never forget how it made her feel and how peaceful her grandfather was as he was leaving for the Hospice House.