July 2026 Honoree
Aaron Quijada, ADN, RN
First of all, it is important that you understand I have been in and out of the hospital a lot in the last year due to suffering from uncontrolled Lupus. I have yet to experience the patient care that I have with Aaron Quijada.
Aaron was my nurse for 3 days. I was also on my 48th birthday, and so I was not only extremely sick and full of pain throughout my body with a Lupus flare, but I was emotionally not ok. My whole family moved out of state a year ago, and so I was extremely alone. I didn’t have a soul that came to see me or was by my side that whole visit. Aaron not only made me feel extremely important and seen, but I never had to ask for anything.
When it came to my medical care, I didn’t have to call for my pain meds one time. He made sure he was on time and we were talking I was on a treatment plan of every 2 hours not to mention he had 5 other patients. Aaron's energy is like no other. He not only brought me my medications, but he quickly discovered that I loved juice, and so every shift he made sure I had cups full of ice and fresh juice and water, along with crackers, etc. He also made sure to ask every time he saw me how I was feeling and what he could do to help me out.
I knew that I needed to nominate Aaron for the DAISY Award pretty early on in my care, but what did it in the end was that, at the end of his first day with me, he walked in with a big bag from the restaurant Chili's and told me that he and some other nurses chipped in to buy me dinner on my birthday. He bought me chicken tenders, French fries, and my own birthday cake. I can’t tell you how much that meant to my parents, who are almost 80 years old, and me. It is not only hard on me being away from them, but can you imagine being away from your daughter who is struggling with a debilitating disease like Lupus these last couple of years? Aaron let them know that I was not alone.
I know if he treated me like that, then he must treat everyone with such dignity, respect, and love while they are in his care.
God bless you, Aaron...I will never forget my 48th Birthday or forget who was there for me in such a hard time in my life!
Aaron was my nurse for 3 days. I was also on my 48th birthday, and so I was not only extremely sick and full of pain throughout my body with a Lupus flare, but I was emotionally not ok. My whole family moved out of state a year ago, and so I was extremely alone. I didn’t have a soul that came to see me or was by my side that whole visit. Aaron not only made me feel extremely important and seen, but I never had to ask for anything.
When it came to my medical care, I didn’t have to call for my pain meds one time. He made sure he was on time and we were talking I was on a treatment plan of every 2 hours not to mention he had 5 other patients. Aaron's energy is like no other. He not only brought me my medications, but he quickly discovered that I loved juice, and so every shift he made sure I had cups full of ice and fresh juice and water, along with crackers, etc. He also made sure to ask every time he saw me how I was feeling and what he could do to help me out.
I knew that I needed to nominate Aaron for the DAISY Award pretty early on in my care, but what did it in the end was that, at the end of his first day with me, he walked in with a big bag from the restaurant Chili's and told me that he and some other nurses chipped in to buy me dinner on my birthday. He bought me chicken tenders, French fries, and my own birthday cake. I can’t tell you how much that meant to my parents, who are almost 80 years old, and me. It is not only hard on me being away from them, but can you imagine being away from your daughter who is struggling with a debilitating disease like Lupus these last couple of years? Aaron let them know that I was not alone.
I know if he treated me like that, then he must treat everyone with such dignity, respect, and love while they are in his care.
God bless you, Aaron...I will never forget my 48th Birthday or forget who was there for me in such a hard time in my life!
Thank you, Aaron, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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