Heather Patterson Henderson Receives DAISY Award
Congratulations to Heather Patterson Henderson, an Internal Agency Team nurse at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, for receiving The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award nomination for Heather was submitted by a patient’s daughter-in-law who saw how well Heather took care of her hubsand’s mother during her time at The Medical Center at Bowling Green.
My husband’s mother, Janice, loved Christmas more than anything, but on Christmas morning, we noticed that she was more winded than normal and using the edge of the stove to prop herself against as she fried bacon and eggs for our Christmas family brunch.
A few days later when her breathing got worse, we took her to see a pulmonologist who asked to direct admit for potential respiratory failure. Not happy about the admission at all, she was placed in the pulmonary unit, where that night, she met her evening nurse.
I might add that my mother-in-law was not always an easy person to please, especially when she didn’t feel good, but the next morning I got the report that her overnight nurse had been “absolutely wonderful”, but she couldn’t remember her name. She told me that the nurse knew me and had worked with me near the end of the Med Center Health Covid Shot Clinic. I knew immediately who she was talking about because I had already witnessed this nurse’s dedication to the mission in my time working alongside her.
She remained Janice’s nurse the following evening as well, which turned out to be Ms. Janice’s last. Refusing a respirator or Bi-pap as her breathing worsened, Heather was so patient and comforting to the whole family as the kids and grandkids, more than visitation limits allowed, and all arrived to stand around her bed to say their goodbyes. Her presence during those evenings with Janice was so greatly appreciated.
She treated us as if we were the only people in the whole hospital, which went a very long way during such an unexpected and stressful time. I would love to let Heather know how much her service meant to my entire husband’s family and me. I know Heather is studying to be an APRN, and I have no doubt she will be an awesome one.
ABOUT THE DAISY AWARD
The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award for Extraordinary Nurses™ is an international recognition program that honors and celebrates the skillful, compassionate care nurses provide every day. The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he died from complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999. During his hospitalization, they deeply appreciated the care and compassion shown to Patrick and his entire family. They felt compelled to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way.
To nominate an extraordinary nurse for the DAISY award, visit MedCenterHealth.org/DAISY.
