Karina Alvarado
May 2026
Karina
Alvarado
,
RN
Burn Center
UMC Health System
Lubbock
,
TX
United States
She advocated for her patient at every step and refused to let logistical challenges prevent this mother from caring for her child in the most important way she still could.
I would like to recognize Karina for the extraordinary compassion, advocacy, and dedication she demonstrated while caring for a critically injured patient in the Burn ICU.
Karina cared for a newly admitted patient with 98% total body surface area burns, an incredibly devastating injury, and a profoundly difficult admission for everyone involved. The day was filled with urgent bedside procedures and constant efforts to stabilize the patient. At the same time, it became clear that the patient’s injuries were likely non-survivable.
The patient was young, and the situation was deeply traumatic for her family, especially knowing that her young child had witnessed the event that led to her injuries.
Despite the intensity and pace of the medical care required, Karina never lost sight of the human side of this situation. She worked tirelessly to help us reach appropriate family members and made sure the patient had opportunities to communicate her wishes before extubation.
After the patient was extubated, Karina carefully assessed her ability to participate in decision-making. Once it became clear that the patient was able to make decisions for herself, Karina immediately focused on helping her address what mattered most: the future care of her child.
Knowing the patient might only have a short time left, Karina took it upon herself to help coordinate the resources needed to ensure the patient’s wishes could be honored. She worked diligently to identify the right contacts and helped initiate the legal paperwork necessary to establish guardianship for the patient’s child.
Even though it was a weekend and the process required navigating additional barriers, Karina never hesitated to go the extra mile. She advocated for her patient at every step and refused to let logistical challenges prevent this mother from caring for her child in the most important way she still could.
Throughout the day, Karina balanced complex, high-acuity clinical care with profound compassion and advocacy. She made it possible for this patient to spend the final days of her life putting her family first, and she did everything she could to make those moments meaningful and dignified.
Even if this patient is never able to thank her, it is clear that Karina gave her an extraordinary gift: the chance to take care of her child one last time.
For that, and for the compassion and dedication she brings to her patients every day, Karina is profoundly deserving of the DAISY Award.
Karina cared for a newly admitted patient with 98% total body surface area burns, an incredibly devastating injury, and a profoundly difficult admission for everyone involved. The day was filled with urgent bedside procedures and constant efforts to stabilize the patient. At the same time, it became clear that the patient’s injuries were likely non-survivable.
The patient was young, and the situation was deeply traumatic for her family, especially knowing that her young child had witnessed the event that led to her injuries.
Despite the intensity and pace of the medical care required, Karina never lost sight of the human side of this situation. She worked tirelessly to help us reach appropriate family members and made sure the patient had opportunities to communicate her wishes before extubation.
After the patient was extubated, Karina carefully assessed her ability to participate in decision-making. Once it became clear that the patient was able to make decisions for herself, Karina immediately focused on helping her address what mattered most: the future care of her child.
Knowing the patient might only have a short time left, Karina took it upon herself to help coordinate the resources needed to ensure the patient’s wishes could be honored. She worked diligently to identify the right contacts and helped initiate the legal paperwork necessary to establish guardianship for the patient’s child.
Even though it was a weekend and the process required navigating additional barriers, Karina never hesitated to go the extra mile. She advocated for her patient at every step and refused to let logistical challenges prevent this mother from caring for her child in the most important way she still could.
Throughout the day, Karina balanced complex, high-acuity clinical care with profound compassion and advocacy. She made it possible for this patient to spend the final days of her life putting her family first, and she did everything she could to make those moments meaningful and dignified.
Even if this patient is never able to thank her, it is clear that Karina gave her an extraordinary gift: the chance to take care of her child one last time.
For that, and for the compassion and dedication she brings to her patients every day, Karina is profoundly deserving of the DAISY Award.