A patient received a devastating cancer diagnosis and needed surgery. After losing his wife to cancer several years earlier, the patient confided in PNH nurse Peggy Troyer that he would not suffer the way his wife did. He told Peggy he would not undergo the surgery and that he planned to commit suicide when he returned home. Peggy was brought to tears by the patient's situation, counseled him extensively and kept track of his care.

When Peggy later visited the patient on the 7th floor, he had a story of compassion to tell her. The patient said that two nursing students bought T-shirts, underwear, coats, jeans, slippers and a teddy bear for him, and left an unsigned Get Well card. He didn't know their names but the patient told Peggy just how wonderfully they treated him, and that he couldn't believe that strangers would care for him the way they had. The patient said he had made the decision to go through with the surgery and fight for his life.

The nursing students' identities remained unknown for weeks, until one of them returned to PNH and visited the patient.

"It wasn't done for acknowledgement; it was done because someone needed it to be done," said a teary-eyed I'yana Cola. "People take things for granted and just to know something so small could make such a large impact on someone else's life just means a lot to us."

Cola said neither she nor fellow student, Jheri Hill, knew the patient had been contemplating suicide. Hill said the decision to buy items for him started with a tearful conversation when she went into his room. The patient told her he had quit his job to care for his wife only to then watch her waste away. He sobbed over his wife's death and said he was scared. When she asked if there was anything he needed, he only asked for underwear.

"It was like something was on my shoulders. I couldn't stop thinking about him," said Jheri Hill.

That's when she ventured out to buy what she could for him. She planned to leave the items in a bag at the nurse's station, but Cola, a close friend of hers, insisted she deliver them in person. Cola drove to the hospital to accompany Hill. When they showed him the items, the patient started crying. Cola and Hill stayed in the room and prayed with him.

Hill said she didn't sign the card because she didn't want any praise for doing something that she felt called to do.

"I don't' mind doing something for people but the recognition is too much for me," said Hill. "If I'm supposed to help you, I shouldn't get praises for doing something that I'm supposed to be doing."

Peggy stated, "I just couldn't get him out of my head." She visited the patient during breaks while at work and also came in on her off days to check on him.

"Peggy is a fine example of the type of nurse we have working here at Piedmont Newnan Hospital," said Jason Smith, vice president and chief nursing officer at Piedmont Newnan. "Nurses are everyday heroes and the DAISY Award is an important way to let our nurses know their work is highly valued."