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Health & Fitness

Nurses Recognized by DAISY Foundation

Daisy Award Winners

Bonnie and Mark Barnes set out on a journey to thank nurses around the world through the DAISY Foundation. On Tuesday, July 31, the Barnes visited Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital to personally congratulate and thank the nurses who have received the DAISY Award.

“Nurses don’t realize the impact that they make on people. So many times, we come across nurses who tell us that they have done nothing special and they were just doing their job,” said Mark Barnes.

The DAISY Award was created to say thank you to nurses who go above and beyond compassion and kindness for patients and their families.

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“Nurses are heroes – whether they’d like to admit it or not. I thank every person that is a nurse because they are extraordinary individuals,” Barnes said.

Four recipients spoke humbly about their reason for being a nurse and what the DAISY Award means to them. Each ended their speech by giving Mark and Bonnie “nurse hugs,” because, as the Good Samaritan Hospital nurses noted, those are the best hugs anyone can receive.

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“This national recognition showcases the compassionate care that our nurses provide to our patients each and every day,” said Denise Bentz, MS, RN, director of nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital.

The DAISY Foundation was formed in 1999 in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, son of Bonnie and Mark, who passed at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (IPT). The Barnes were appreciative and grateful for all the nurses who took care of their son throughout his disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. Currently seven different countries have promoted the DAISY Award and more than 200,000 nurses have been nominated.    

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