Besty Chinelo Onyekwena, RN

I am deeply honored to nominate my wonderful nurse for the DAISY Award. After my surgery, I was in a lot of pain and feeling incredibly anxious. It was a very scary time for me, but she stepped in and became my rock. She went so far beyond just doing her job. She gave me constant emotional support and steady reassurance whenever I felt overwhelmed. Instead of rushing through her tasks, she patiently explained every single step of my treatment, took the time to truly listen to my fears, and treated me with the utmost dignity and respect. Because of her, I felt completely safe and valued during my entire hospital stay.

One of the hardest parts of my recovery was feeling isolated and deeply distressed because I couldn’t see my family. Noticing how upset I was, she thoughtfully stepped in and initiated a conversation that I believe she wanted to know what could calm me down until we arrived at her and arranged a video call with my loved ones. That simple act of pure kindness instantly comforted me and lifted my spirits right when I needed it most.

On top of her incredible emotional support, she was also watching over me with sharp professional intuition. She caught early signs of complications that I hadn't even realized were happening and promptly alerted the medical team, which proved vital to my recovery. Her kindness, quick clinical judgment, and unwavering dedication made a massive, lasting difference in my healing journey. I will truly never forget what she did for me.