Tracy Clodfelter wouldn't be working at Hilton Head Hospital without the unwitting help of her daughter.
About three years ago, Clodfelter was contemplating applying for a job at the hospital. A school nurse at the time, she filled out the online application, but walked away without submitting it. She needed more time to think, she said.
But then her daughter, Ali, needed to use the computer. Ali submitted the application and moved on to another website. That mouse click catapulted Clodfelter back to clinical nursing.
"I had to pretend I wasn't terrified," she said. "But now, I love it."
Tracy, who works in the same-day surgery unit, won the hospital's first DAISY Award, which recognizes nurses for the work they do each day.
For Clodfelter, the award came as a surprise -- she wasn't even planning to attend the announcement ceremony.
"I feel like I went numb, and the blood rushed to my feet," she said of the surprise. "I'm just stunned."
Karen Basirico, clinical lead in the same-day surgery unit, nominated Clodfelter, saying her compassion and willingness to take on any challenge made her stand out. She's always lifting her coworkers' spirits with her humor and her patients' and their families' spirits with her helpful attitude and kindness, Basirico said.
"She can make a frightened child or patient feel secure, and a geriatric patient feel loved," Basirico said.
Clodfelter said she's just doing the job she loves.
"I love meeting so many different kinds of people and helping them through a difficult time," she said.