After a recent Professional Development Council Meeting, Kim and I were talking. During this time, she shared with me something special she does to honor or remember the patients she and her team members care for on 5W. Every year she decorates a tree that is displayed in the lobby on the unit. The patients and families look forward to seeing the tree at Christmas. The tree contains multiple ornaments Kim has purchased reminding her of the patients treated on the oncology floor. She told me about a pink ribbon ornament in memory of a patient who lost her life to breast cancer. She shared about the UT, Kentucky, and Florida ornaments for the avid sports fans battling cancer. Kim shops for ornaments throughout the year and each one is unique to the patient it represents.

After talking with her Nurse Manager, I learned since Kim started this tradition it has grown to two trees displaying these special ornaments on 5W. The Clinical Nurse Educator shared with me, "she does not just put up ornaments for patients but some of the ornaments represent the nursing staff and the oncologists. I also know that a majority of the decorating comes out of her own money and she does a majority of the decorating on her off days. She even includes the patients on the day she is decorating and has them help her hang ornaments to make the patients feel at home and even share stories (without violating HIPAA of course) of successful treatments so patients are more hopeful about their treatment."

Kim has been a dedicated member of the Professional Development Council representing 5W for many years. She has participated in UTMC's QUEST Program as well. She is kind, compassionate, and epitomizes what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.