Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital recently awarded Tammy Dennard, RN, with the DAISY award. The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skills and compassionate care given by nurses every day.

Tammy, who is a nurse in Radiation Oncology, was nominated by Lila Swords. “Tammy has taken care of my mother, my husband, and my father over the past 5 or more years in the Radiation Oncology department in some form or fashion,” wrote Lila.

Both of Lila’s parents and her husband suffered from cancer, but through it all Tammy was there to help Lila and her family through one of the most difficult times of their lives. “She made each of my family members feel like they were getting the very best care, that they were her top priority at all times, and that they were always going to be catered to with the care that she would give her own family members,” added Lila.

According to the nomination letter, Tammy never missed a phone call and if she did, she never hesitated to call right back. She answered their many questions and took the time to always go over treatment in detail. Lila, a nurse also, worked night shifts and Tammy would meet her early in the morning to get prescriptions for her family member to ensure they had their medications. Additionally, if one of Lila’s family members was sick, Tammy would stay late to get them in the Symptom Management clinic so that they would not have to be admitted to the hospital or have to go to the emergency center.

“I have seen her working with other patients when I have been at the office, and she treats everyone with the love and care that she does my family. She is the true meaning of a Daisy Award. She is the Sunshine that makes the daisy grow,” said Lila.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick 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.

At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an "Extraordinary Nurse." The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

If you would like to nominate a nurse for the DAISY Award, go to phoebehealth.com/daisy-award.