Oklahoma City Nurse Receives Daisy Award

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital recently recognized one of their nurses with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize nurses that go the extra mile for their patients, family and team members.
Blakely Palafox, RN, SSM Health St. Anthony, was the recipient of The DAISY Award for his compassionate patient care. When he was presented the award, the patient nomination he received was read aloud. As the letter was being read, a woman stepped from the crowd of Palafox’s co-workers. The woman was Harriett Greene, the very patient who nominated him for The DAISY Award. Greetings of hugs, smiles and tears were exchanged between the two.
In her nomination letter, Greene spoke of Palafox’s compassion; in the letter she stated, “I asked (Blakely) ‘do you believe in angels?’ He said, ‘yes.’ I told him, God sent you to me, you are my angel.”
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.
Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him 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.” 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.