Recently I completed a six-month series of treatments for Wald Enstrom's Macroglobulinemia, a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at Riverview Cancer Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Even though all the nursing staff at the center were exemplary, I would like to nominate one very deserving nurse in particular for the DAISY Award. Her name is Shelly Voight.

I appreciate that selecting one nurse out of a group of exceptional nurses is a little like choosing a favorite child. As a father of six children, I find the decision difficult if not impossible. Yet, Shelly stood out for many reasons. After the treatment was started, she explained the slow pace of the medication was necessary to determine how I would react to it. After a few hours, I did experience an uncontrollable shaking reaction. As a result, she followed protocol, alerting all staff on the floor, while she calmly coached me to breathe deeply during the episode. In a short time with the addition of counter-acting drugs, my reaction was under control. The solution was determined for use during the remainder of my treatments. It was clear our anticipated 7-hour day the first day was going to be stretched beyond her normal work day. She assured me that she would stay until completion which meant her work day would exceed 10 hours.

In my opinion, Shelly exceeded the Aspirus core values of a positive attitude, compassion, attentiveness, and working together as a team and making a special connection with me, her patient, and my wife who attended all the treatments. Shelly's disposition helped make a time of not knowing what to expect into one that showed that not only are they treating the cancer, but also the patient with dignity and skill. Therefore, I enthusiastically believe Shelly Voight is a true DAISY Nurse.