Connect

“Alec found that connection .... a source of inspiration and joy to this tiny but mighty" child.

The families of a UVA Health Children's cancer patient are sharing what the support of a nurse on 7 Acute means to them.

One of the patient's family members nominated Alec Harrison, RN, for a DAISY Award from the Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO). Associate Chief Nursing Officer Karin Skeen, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Chair Leanne Davis, RN, surprised Harrison with the award.

From the relative's nomination:

"First, I must say this is a long journey. Giselle is still under the care of so many amazingly gifted pediatric hematologists, oncologists, residents, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nursing assistants, technicians, and staff.

"However, I have to stop and acknowledge how crucial nurse Alec Harrison is to my niece, myself, and our family. I believe it's important for long-term stay patients like Giselle who need to feel a connection to their caregivers in order to help them make a conscious decision to want to get better. Alec found that connection. He is a big part of her motivation to be brave and fight for her life! He was one of the first nurses to take care of Giselle after her transfer from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

"She had been intubated for almost two weeks over the Christmas holiday and was immobilized for more than 30 days. The first time I met Alec was in the middle of the night right before the New Year. Weary in mind and spirit, I knew that my niece was going to be in good hands while I attempted to sleep under her tiny tree and Christmas lights. Alec displays the confidence and knowledge of a nurse who has been practicing his craft for many years! Even though he has not been a nurse for long, I want him to know we're so proud of him for continuing his education and becoming a certified chemotherapy nurse in such a short period of time.

"He stays on top of his duties and makes sure everything is timed out correctly, so we don't have to hear the IV pump beep forever. Giselle always needs a lot of supplies and he makes sure everything is well stocked so the next shift would have one less thing to worry about. His communications skills are above reproach and he makes sure that each of Giselle's care partners are aware of what's going to take place with her care while on his shift.

"Yet he's still calm and comforting not only to Giselle, but to our entire family. He speaks in a soft and sweet tone during the night to let her know what she needs to do to help him get labs, be changed, or give medication. Giselle was famous for running fevers higher than the thermometer could measure! Alec could see she was suffering and the oral medication was not working to break her fever. He consulted with her team and his peers to see if there was an alternative to reduce her pain and suffering. I believe that he went above and beyond advocating for Giselle.

"He was able to find an intravenous alternative to make sure her cyclical fevers would break as safely and as fast as possible. Even if Alec is not assigned to Giselle, he'll pop his head in to check on us to see if we were in need of anything. Alec knows her so well, you would think he's caring for his own niece! He leaves positive notes on the whiteboard overnight to brighten our morning: 'I love taking care of you guys!' This is just one of many.

"After the holidays when it was time for him to take a much deserved vacation, we awoke to a beautiful picture of Minnie Mouse colored in her favorite color, pink! He wrote a special note in the corner to let her know that she is one of the bravest little girls that he knows and that everyone is on #Team Giselle! She saw her picture and after I read his note of inspiration, she was beaming from ear-to-ear with a beautiful smile.

"The family can't begin to thank Alec enough for continuing to be a source of inspiration and joy to this tiny but mighty five-year-old cancer patient. Giselle has come such a long way in her journey. Alec is still here for Giselle as she marches toward the end of her chemotherapy treatments and inches closer to being able to ring the cancer survivor bell."

Know a Fabulous Nurse?
"DAISY" stands for "Diseases Attacking the Immune System." The DAISY Award was established by The DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of only 33 of an autoimmune disease. The Barnes Family was awestruck by the clinical skills, caring, and compassion of his nurses, so they created this national award to thank nurses everywhere.

At UVA Health University Medical Center — patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.