My husband was recently diagnosed with Heart Failure at 34. His echo showed 7% and we were immediately sent to AHH in Little Rock. Danyel had him the weekend we were there. She was phenomenal. She kept us updated (many tests were performed by a team of doctors) and it was overwhelming at times. However, Danyel made sure we had everything from test updates, information on treatments, follow-ups, education, and hygiene products and blankets. My husband had never been hospitalized before and was anxious. She spent extra time explaining everything BEFORE it happened and clarified what the doctors or other staff told us, and spent time educating us on his condition. She made sure case management spoke with us regarding his medications and made sure we understood the importance of what to do once we got home. My husband had a lot of questions, we never felt rushed or as though we were bothering her. She was a blessing to my husband and our family during our stay. I truly don’t believe we would have been as successful at home as we’ve been without her spending the time she did to teach us things to look out for and ensuring our medications were looked over by case management prior to discharge. When exiting her shift she came in with oncoming staff and introduced them. She intervened quickly when my husband was having changes on his heart monitor (multiple instances) and got new orders immediately (blood draws, etc) and spent a lot of her time the first few days in our room due to his condition, but never made him, or me, feel like we were taking time away from other matters, which I’m sure her plate was full with multiple cardiac patients.

I believe she deserves this award for her thoughtfulness, willingness to go above and beyond in the smallest of matters to the biggest, being alert and attentive, and being a listening ear when we needed it. She thinks ahead, she created a game plan and had things taken care of prior to our notice of discharge. It is nurses like Danyel that restore my faith in healthcare. Thank you Danyel. You will always be appreciated by myself and my family for caring for us in our greatest time of need.

Not only did Danyel go above and beyond for my husband who was diagnosed with Heart Failure, but she also heard our son was coming for a visit and his 13th birthday was the day he was visiting. She printed out sheets of paper that said Happy Birthday B and had all the nurses sign it. I got cupcakes for him and she found some balloons that had been sitting around and helped me throw him a little party. She and another nurse came in and told him HBD and it was just an extra thing they did not have to do that meant the world to me, my husband, and my son thought it was cool too. It was very special to us, we are a close family and we’re devastated by the recent news and so upset we couldn’t celebrate our son the way we wanted to do it meant a lot.

I cannot say enough great things. My husband is quiet and was so nervous but he perked up and joked around when Danyel was on shift. While she was working, he was light-hearted and more himself. Thank you, Danyel!!