Jan Hucks, RN, a Staff Nurse in the Newborn Nursery, was recently named a DAISY Award Recipient for McLeod Regional Medical Center. Jan was nominated by a patient for her extraordinary care and compassion.

To recognize those Nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center who are true examples of Nursing Excellence, patients, family members, and co-workers may nominate nurses for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

On one of the nomination forms, the patient wrote, “I had my daughter, Annzley, on January 29, 2021. To preface, she was a miracle baby, as my husband and I lost two babies before she was born. I was scheduled for a C-section that morning, and everything went well with the delivery.

That afternoon, during Annzley’s first bath, Jan noticed her eyes were cloudy. Her pupils were not visible. The physician reassessed Annzley and quickly made a referral for an ophthalmologist to examine her.

Annzley’s symptoms were consistent with congenital glaucoma. This is a birth defect that damages the optic nerve. It can lead to irreversible vision loss and cause blindness. About 1 in every 10,000 infants is affected.

Her diagnosis was confirmed after being transferred to another medical facility at two days old. This news was gut-wrenching and life-altering. However, this disease is rarely caught at birth, to the amazement of Annzley’s medical team. She’s had three surgeries since birth, all to lower the pressure in her eyes and save her vision.

Currently, Annzley’s pressure has been stable and although she is near-sighted, she is living her best life.

I cannot thank Jan enough for taking the time and noticing Annzley’s cloudiness in her eyes. If it weren’t for Jan, my daughter may not have been able to see as well as she does today.”

About the DAISY Nursing Award

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

Nurses may be nominated for their strong clinical skills and the compassionate care they provide. Nomination forms are available in each nursing unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center or can be found at www.McLeodNursing.org.

Recipients of the DAISY Award are chosen by the DAISY committee, led by nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.