I don't even know how to begin this long-overdue recommendation for this prestigious DAISY Award. I do know this nurse is the most deserving of anyone, and my entire family agrees. It all started when my brother M came to Froedtert by ambulance from Aurora Grafton after being diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer metastasizing to the liver. They started his first chemo almost immediately, and that’s where we met the most caring, selfless, knowledgeable, compassionate nurse named Becky W on 8 CFAC. She administered his 1st chemo, and as we were all scared of the unknown, Becky was there for us every step of the way. I remember crying on a bench outside his room, and she sat beside me, put her arm around me, and said he's in the best care, and we will be here for you and your family every step of the way, and that she was for the next 16 months of his life. That was the beginning of my brother M's journey. Every time he was admitted to the 8CFAC, M and our family requested Becky W to care for him. Don't get me wrong, 8 CFAC had so many outstanding nurses, and I wish I could nominate all of them for this award, but Becky stood out from the very beginning. M was very loved and supported by our large family, "M's Warriors" was his wife L, me and my husband C, Brother G and Wife V, Sister S and her husband S, Brother K, Brother-in-Law M, and many nieces and nephews who came to visit, and of course, his abundance of friends. Every single relative of M's was so impressed by how she made us all feel, and M especially!! The most important!
We were told by Dr. K and her team, and other nurses on 8CFAC, that M survived his Pancreatic cancer for 16 months because of our family support. I truly believe that, and also because of the positive, caring, knowledgeable nurses such as Becky!
My brother always lit up when he knew that Becky was going to be his nurse. They had such a sweet relationship of understanding, trust, and connection. He was never embarrassed around her; talking about anything concerning his care was easy, and he listened to what she had to say. She made my brother smile, even playing funny tricks on her; he would laugh so hard because he loved to tease. She was a great sport about it. He couldn't have asked for anyone better. We felt she was his angel nurse on earth. A couple of times, he wasn't eating, and she tempted him by bringing in homemade food from her husband's place of employment. He ate that up and enjoyed every bit of Turkey Tetrazzini and Pizza. Who does such a kind gesture? Well, Becky did! Whenever he asked for something, she would take care of it immediately. Whether it was filling his drinks, giving him pain meds, blankets, bathroom visits, etc. She was like the Energizer Bunny with a smile on her face. When we were down because M was down, she, with her kind words, knowledge, compassion, experience, and hope, brought all of us back up again. She became part of our large family. Whenever we questioned what the doctors said or the medication he was on, she was there to answer our abundance of questions and explained it so we understood it better.
She not only cared about M, but our family, too. Making sure L and I were eating and taking care of ourselves as we spent many nights at the hospital with him. Even when she worked in the 24-hour care department, she would take her break and come see how he was doing. She last did this when she was there for a meeting or training classes. What we could clearly tell, Becky was a mentor to other nurses and was always highly talked about, and they looked up to her. They saw in her what we had been experiencing for 16 months. My brother wanted to do something special for her; he would say she was one of a kind, and he was lucky enough to get her.
We would bring in donuts for all the nurses and homemade cookies, and even shared a carry-out fish fry with her. It was the least we could do for her, going above and beyond to comfort him during his terminal illness diagnosis. I asked my family to write a message to me so I could include it in this letter. They all said the same thing that's been written already, deserving this award. Nearing the end of my brother’s life, she sat with us explaining what happens and the whole process at the end of life. In our darkest days and last week, she still made sure he was getting everything he needed, that we needed! We did take a family picture (with Becky) because she became family. She never waivered! She was constant! Then, to top this all off, she showed up with another amazing Nurse H to M's funeral. We were all so thankful to both of them on one of the saddest days of our families' lives, she once again showed up! We know that God brought the best of our brother M on that day in 2023 to guide him through this journey. We will forever be grateful to this outstanding human being. She will be remembered as our brother’s angel on earth.