Connect

"I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for guiding me through my personal calamity with the light of grace." 

"I felt she wanted my cancer cells to die — just as much as I wanted my cancer cells to die," says Christi Wilson, BSN, RNCC, OCN, Infusion Procedural Center, in her DAISY Award nomination of a UVA Health nurse who surpassed expectations during Wilson's treatment.

UVA Health University Medical Center Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and Jenny Ernest, Nursing Governance Coordinator, Nursing Professional Governance Office, surprised Brenda Griswold, MSN, RN, with the award and read the nomination to the emotional duo and their colleagues:

'Like a Ghost Within My Body'

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer and told I would need six rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, six weeks of radiation, and one year of immunotherapy. I am several months out from receiving chemotherapy at the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center — completed my surgery, radiation — and only have a few more rounds of immunotherapy. The course of treatment was certainly traumatic, knowing I would come home and feel like a ghost within my body while my young children played around me."

'Her Name Is Brenda Griswold'

"There was one nurse during my chemotherapy portion of treatment who went beyond expectations. She treated me like one of her children, and I know she told me she had six children of her own."

"She gave me four of my six rounds of chemotherapy, adjusting her schedule with her own family to be my nurse because she knew it would make my experience less of an affliction to an already super painful experience. Her name is Brenda Griswold."

'Gently Without Judgement'

"She would give me confidence, quoting her daily scripture which she had read that morning knowing she would share it with those in need. She encouraged me to think positively and welcomed whichever family member was present, making my time there somehow pleasant."

"I was able to sleep the night before chemotherapy because I knew Brenda was going to care for me gently without judgement, courageously, and with a smile."

'Walked Me Without Fear'

"I truly cannot imagine my experience without her — she held my hand and walked me without fear through a thunderstorm. She would tell me how beautiful I looked when I lost my hair and I know it was genuine, so I felt beautiful regardless of losing my long, dark, curly hair. I knew I could fall asleep in the chair at the cancer center, and she would take care of my port line, scrubbing all the hubs between each administration."

"I would have to receive a five-minute injection every visit into my thigh, and I could tell it hurt her to be at the hands of any pain toward me, but she administered it because she knew it would kill my cancer. I felt she wanted my cancer cells to die — just as much as I wanted my cancer cells to die."

'With the Light of Grace'

"Every time she put on her chemotherapy PPE [personal protective equipment], she was suiting up to be my superhero."

"What a blessing it was to have her care for me! I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for guiding me through my personal calamity with the light of grace."

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.

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with the DAISY Award; patients or their families, visitors, and team members may submit a DAISY Award nomination.