Contributed Photo
Mee Memorial Hospital nurse Lucy Trejo receives the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses on June 5 from Chief Nursing Officer Keith Bradkowski.
KING CITY — Mee Memorial Hospital each quarter recognizes one of their outstanding nurses by honoring them with the Daisy Award. This quarter’s recipient of the Daisy Award was Lucy Trejo, LVN, in the Skilled Nursing Facility.
The nurses are nominated by patients, their families and staff to receive the award. The Daisy committee at Mee Memorial Hospital reviews all the nominations and makes the selection of the honoree.
“Lucy embodies what the Daisy Award is about. She is kind and compassionate with patients, and uses humor to put them at ease. Many patients ask for Lucy by name,” said Chief Nursing Officer Keith Bradkowski, “Lucy cares for her patients in a way that makes them feel calm and comfortable.”
Trejo works in the Skilled Nursing Facility Unit, where staff and colleagues all gathered to honor her for her well-deserved award.
Bradkowski announced Trejo as this quarter’s recipient and read aloud a family’s testimonial about Trejo that gave insight to why this award was so merited. The family spoke of how their father was uncooperative and Trejo was able to get him to relax and work with the medical team. They also mentioned how Trejo jokes with their father, and he enjoys this and it helps keep him cheerful and relaxed.
Trejo’s astute observations of patients and their wellbeing has helped medical staff act quickly to keep patients healthy. Family members, patients and coworkers alike are grateful for Trejo’s hard work and dedication.
Bradkowski presented Trejo with a goody bag full of items showing the hospital’s and patient’s gratitude and a certificate praising her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.”
Trejo was also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.
Mee Memorial’s Service League sponsors this quarterly award.
Service League President Donna Olivera said, “We are proud to sponsor this award for the much deserving nurses at Mee Memorial who help make this hospital what it is. We appreciate their hard work and want to be sure to recognize it.”
The not-for-profit Daisy Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, Calif., and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at age 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care he and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the Daisy Foundation, said, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Mee Memorial are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the Daisy Award.”
