Andrea Kuchelmeister RN, 2 South, has been chosen as the DAISY Award recipient for October 2021. Andrea was presented with the award by Jason Perry, Director of Clinical Support & Hospital Based Providers; Ashley Lyman, Director of Nursing & Clinical Practice and Nan Bush, President of Bellin Foundation. Following is the nomination(s) received by the DAISY Committee 1. On September 4th, 2 South had a long-term patient (who had been with us for 3+ months) pass away. The patient had younger children. Before the patient passed away, Andrea talked with the patient and her boyfriend to discuss the idea of having memorial bears made for the children. Andrea collected money from staff to raise money for teddy bears/pillows to give the children and family. Andrea took the patient's blanket home (that was with her in the hospital) and washed it. She contacted a business to make the bears and pillows. Enough money was collected to not only pay for the bears and pillows but to give the family gift cards to take the kids out for some fun at a trampoline park and an arcade. Andrea and a few coworkers dropped off the gifts to the family; Andrea went above and beyond by showing compassion to the patient and family. She wanted to do something special for the family to remember the patient. She spent a lot of time outside of work getting everything taken care of. We are so blessed to have Andrea as a part of our 2 South team! 2. We recently had a patient that passed away after being on the floor for three months. Before she passed, Andrea and some nurses decided it would be nice to get something of hers for her children to remember her by. She organized donations from the staff and had bears and pillows made from her blanket. It was a great gesture by all staff to step up but especially Andrea for coordinating it all. Cardiac has fantastic nurses all around. It makes you proud to work with such compassionate and caring individuals.