Abbey listens as Ashley reads her DAISY Award nomination for her.
Munson Medical Center maternity nurse Abbey Carlisle, RN, recently stood with her team in the 7 am morning shift huddle.
In through the unit’s doors walked former patient Ashley Ascione-Blakely, her husband, Matt, and her son, Nolan, who was carrying a bouquet of colorful cut flowers. Other family members, as well as hospital leaders from nursing and other departments filed in behind them.
Tears started to flow. Ashley had come to honor the nurse who helped her through the tragic loss of her baby earlier this year and to present her with The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses – an award Ashley had nominated Abbey for following her care at the hospital.
Ashley’s nomination was one of 55 DAISY Award nominations. Abbey, a seven-year veteran of the Maternity unit, was chosen as the recipient of the national recognition established in 1999 by a Seattle, Wash. family who wanted to honor nurses who go above and beyond in providing care – the kind of care they witnessed at a Seattle facility as their son, Patrick, fought but eventually died of an auto immune disease.
As a DAISY winner, Abbey received a DAISY certificate, pin, hand-carved serpentine stone statue entitled “Healer’s Touch” and a batch of cinnamon rolls to share with colleagues.
“Despite the traumatic events of my health and pregnancy, I find myself so blessed to walk away knowing people like Abbey are here and they genuinely care,” Ashley said. “Every move she made was with strong regard to dignity, respect, and sheer love. It takes a special kind of person to bear witness to a situation like mine, but her efforts went beyond anything I ever imagined, and I will forever be thankful.”