Ekstrum recognized with DAISY Award

Sheila Ekstrum, RN, has been named Gordon Hospitals latest DAISY Award recipient. This award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human tasks nurses perform every day.

, who is a nurse on Gordon Hospitals medical-surgical unit, received a nomination with the following statement: I was a patient in the medical-surgical unit. I had a PNA and possibly lung cancer. I was in a lot of pain and I was scared. This nurse helped me in so many ways. One night, she was off the floor and I needed pain medication. I was confused about what time the medication was due and gave another nurse a hard time. My nurse came back, sat beside me, and placed her hand on my arm. She explained my medication and told me she understood I was scared. She offered to pray for me. I told her I was not much of a Christian man, but she cold pray for me anyway. She also offered to have a hospital minister come to see me. I agreed and spoke with him the next day. Two days later, I had an incident with staff. I felt ashamed and embarrassed by my behavior. Later that night, I decided to go home because I felt so bad. My nurse again sat beside me and said the incident was over and no one else knew. She said my health was more important. She sat beside me the whole time. Because she took time with me, I stayed to get my PNA medication. Now I am better at home, and I don't have cancer. Her prayers and physical comfort changed my life. I am a Christian man now. Thank you.

If you or a loved one have been a patient at Gordon Hospital and would like to nominate an extraordinary nurse for the DAISY Award, visit www.gordonhospital.com to download a nomination form, or call Call706-602-7800 x2258.

To find out more about the program, including the growing list of partners, please go to www.DAISYfoundation.org.

About the DAISY Foundation

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for diseases attacking the immune system.)

The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

About Gordon Hospital

Founded in 1935, Gordon Hospital is proud to be a member of Adventist Health System. With 45 hospital campuses and more than 8,300 licensed beds in nine states, Adventist Health System is a faith-based healthcare organization headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida. A national leader in quality, safety, and patient satisfaction, Adventist Health Systems more than 80,000 employees maintain a tradition of whole-person health by caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of every patient. Each Adventist Health System facility operates independently in delivering care and services to best meet the needs of the local communities they serve. While each entity is unique, all remain united in one mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ.