I was a patient of nurse Danielle Tristan while receiving chemo on the sixth floor of the Portland VA Hospital in the late Spring of 2021. I was staying in a nearby motel and though I felt very unwell I still managed to drive to the VA hospital for my morning chemo treatment with nurse Tristan. I was having difficulty so I appropriated an empty wheelchair and made my way to chemo on the sixth floor. Nurse Tristan met me and I remember her immediately saying to someone to alert the emergency room and nurse Tristan wheeling me there. I spent a week in the ICU with a double pulmonary embolism and another week in the hospital. I recently learned about the DAISY Award and would like to nominate nurse Tristan. I believe that she, like all the medical staff at your facility, meets the ICARE standards.

Beyond that, nurse Tristan’s quick and competent actions saved my life. I have thanked her personally but would love to see her outstanding service be acknowledged by her peers. I have completed my treatment and have been cancer-free for a year and a half. From the bottom of my heart, I thank nurse Tristan and all the wonderful personnel at the Portland VA.