Chantal Relihan
January 2026
Chantal
Relihan
,
ADN
Cancer Clinic - DTS
Froedtert Health
Milwaukee
,
WI
United States
Chantal has a beautiful soul, a sharp mind, and a compassionate heart.
They say our fingerprints never fade from the lives we touch. In oncology care, we have the privilege to touch the hearts of many. This moment had such a profound impact on us as a team, and we feel Chantal Relihan is truly deserving of the DAISY Award. Our clinic had the pleasure of caring for a gentleman in his late 50s, diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, who stumbled through treatment with compounding medical needs and concerns. He travelled far to see his Drexel team, and never once questioned his choice to drive over 3 hours to receive his care here. He knew it was always worth it and had full trust in the team - full trust in Chantal, most of all. Each time he would arrive to clinic for his visits, Chantal always went above and beyond to check in with him and his wife. It's always slow and steady in the outpatient setting when it comes to building a rapport. For this patient, it bloomed from Chantal being on triage at the time he or his wife would call, bumping into them during rooming, an add-on need with Chantal ready on standby, etc. What started as happenstance turned into a comforting presence and joyful experience. It's not often we have a patient say they look forward to their oncology visit! Chantal took the time to get to know this gentleman and his loving wife. She would ask about their little dog (who made a cameo once, in a symptom-follow-up MyChart photo!) and managed to pick up on small changes in his health (physical and mental) in the brief visits they shared over his time in clinic. She never failed to provide them the best care; she was always there to lend an ear in times of struggle and share a laugh in times of joy. Towards the end of his journey with cancer, his breathing was affected by his disease. Phone calls came less frequently from him and more often from his worried wife. Chantal always did what she does best:  provided them with emotional support when they needed it, and quick thinking in times of emergency for managing that moment's concern. A couple of weeks before his passing, this gentleman had one specific goal in mind.  He wanted to make sure he got to speak with Chantal one last time. At this time, each breath was a fight for him. Every word was chosen with care, as he could only spare a few between breaths. He wanted to make sure she knew what an amazing nurse she is, how much comfort she brought to him and his family, and how grateful he was to have her there as a source of strength on the hardest journey of his lifetime. Chantal has a beautiful soul, a sharp mind, and a compassionate heart. We have blossomed as a team with her confidence and kindness. She approaches her nursing practice with such grace, always showing up as a guiding (and inspiring) light. While this is one special and specific example, Chantal's quality care is a constant. Every patient receives this level of quality and empathy with her on their side. She earnestly touches the lives of all who meet her, and her fingerprints stay on their hearts forever.