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ASTORIA, Ore. — CMH is pleased to announce nurse Sharon Wheatley as its most recent recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Wheatley is CMH’s third DAISY Award honoree. She was nominated by a patient who gave birth to a baby boy earlier this year.

“Sharon was with us during our three-day stay, from inducement to delivery after-care. My husband and I from the start felt so cared for, nurtured, educated and heard by Sharon during a very emotional birth and delivery,” the patient wrote. “Sharon was an angel to us. She was highly attentive to detail. She always explained what was going on and our options every step of the way.”

The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 after 33-year-old J. Patrick Barnes died from complications from an auto-immune disease. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

Barnes spent the last eight weeks of his life in hospitals while he was treated for his ITP symptoms. The nursing care he received profoundly impacted his family. Barnes’ family created the foundation and award to honor nurses who provide outstanding care to patients and patient families.

Award recipients receive a DAISY pin, a personalized certificate, a stone sculpture made by the Shona people of Zimbabwe titled “The Healer’s Touch,” and cinnamon rolls — a treat Barnes enjoyed while hospitalized. “The Healer’s Touch” represents the bond between nurses and their patients.

Wheatley will be highlighted on the DAISY Foundation website and will be eligible to apply for several scholarships.

CMH will continue recognizing DAISY honorees next year. If you have a great story about a CMH nurse, please submit it to Noelle Lund at nlund@columbiamemorial.org.