DAISY
Kaydra Heller, RN

When a DAISY Award nomination begins with "What an amazing nurse," we listen! Congratulations to this quarter's DAISY Award winner, FHN Memorial Hospital ICU nurse Kaydra Heller, RN! "I was extremely impressed at her knowledge of the job and her quick response. She was also guiding and teaching others as she worked. Her positive and upbeat attitude helped the healing process. She is truly an asset to FHN.

Having her there put me and my husband at ease. It was the toughest and scariest time of our lives. I couldn’t have anyone else take better care of my husband. I am very appreciative of the peace of mind she was able to give me during this horrible time. Thank you FHN for having such a great staff!"

BEE
Kathy Schoonhoven

One of this quarter's BEE Award winners, FHN Family Healthcare Center - Pecatonica CMA Kathy Schoonhoven, has made a huge difference in one of her patient's life. "Through her knowledge and encouragement, Kathy has fundamentally changed my outlook on life and has inspired me to start caring for myself. I am inspired by Kathy’s wisdom, compassion, and unwavering support ... Her guidance was crucial in helping me navigate my life’s challenges and embrace opportunities for wellness. I have no doubt that her exceptional knowledge and encouragement will continue to positively impact the lives of all those around her, as she has done on my life."

DAISY
Madyson Thomas, RN

Congratulations to FHN's latest DAISY Award winner, Telemetry Nurse Madyson Thomas, RN! Her nominator explains why she was deserving of this award for the second time this year, "My Mom had many stays at FHN during the last year of her life. She had some very good nurses, but Mady Thomas stuck out to me as being one of the best. During her final stay at FHN, Mady was very attentive to Mom (and myself). There was talk about Mom being released, and I went to Mady, because Mom couldn’t get out of bed without help. I was very emotional, and she was so comforting to me, explaining what was going on with Mom’s care, She knew how weak Mom was. Mady always had time for my questions. If she was busy, she would come back, NEVER forgetting that I had a question. It was very obvious that Mady loves being a nurse and cares for her patients. She treated my Mom like she was her family. After Mom passed, I ran into Mady at a store. I was able to thank her for the great care that she gave Mom. I told her what a great nurse she is. I did not realize her Mom was in the next aisle hearing this. She came around the corner and Mady introduced me to her Mom. Her Mom told me how good it made her feel to hear my comments to Mady. I think Mady is very deserving of the Daisy Award. She is a wonderful nurse and shows it with how she handles her patients and their families."

DAISY
Jennifer Kowalewski, RN

Congratulations to FHN's latest DAISY Award winner, Telemetry Nurse Jennifer Kowalewski, RN! Jennifer was nominated by the family of a man who was in poor health, but hadn't been in a hospital for more than 50 years. "Jennifer put him at ease from the start ... took the time to explain all the medications and procedures to his understanding, and ... always put a smile on his face, even when she had to do something unpleasant. ... (Jennifer) is one selfless nurse, who deserves to be rewarded daily in our book. She loves her job, and you can tell it. The world would be a much better place with more people like Jennifer. Thank you, Jennifer, from the bottom of our hearts. You are one awesome woman!"

DAISY
Madyson Thomas, RN

Providing exceptional care to her patients earned Telemetry Registered Nurse Madyson Thomas FHN’s March DAISY award. Madyson didn't have just one nomination, but three separate nominations! One nominator wrote, "Words cannot describe how great of a nurse Madyson is! I’ve been in and out of hospitals for the past 2 years, and I haven’t gotten as close to another nurse as I have with Madyson." "She was even sweet enough to bring in detangling dry shampoo and a brush to detangle my hair and braided it on her own time." "Our chats gave me temporary relief from the excruciating pain I was in; she is so great!" Additional nominators describe her as caring, extremely kind, personable, and knowledgeable. Madyson started at FHN in May 2023 and has shown nothing but unwavering dedication and positive healthcare experiences; we are grateful to have her on our FHN team!

BEE
Samantha Lief, Medical Assistant

Congratulations to FHN’s March 2024 BEE award winner, Medical Assistant Samantha Lief! Her nominator needed to fill a prescription for her son, who had been on medication for 6 months. Unfortunately, due to insurance complications, obtaining the prescription became a challenge. Despite numerous hurdles, Samantha and Nurse Practitioner, Tiffany Kuhlmeyer, engaged with the insurance provider and persistently advocated on behalf of the patient. Throughout the process, Tiffany and Samantha maintained open lines of communication with the patient, providing regular updates on the status of their efforts. Despite denials and encountering unforeseen obstacles such as medication shortages, their determination never wavered. After thirteen days of relentless pursuit, Tiffany and Samantha succeeded in identifying an alternative medication that met both insurance coverage criteria and availability at the pharmacy. The nominator wrote, "I’m very grateful for the care we receive as patients at Highland View Drive. This is just one example of many times they have gone above and beyond for us! Thank you, Tiffany and Samantha, you're a great team!"