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"The moment she walked into that room, our loved one's whole world changed!" 

The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors up to two UVA Health University Medical Center nurses each month with a DAISY Award. Associate Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Brill, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, and DAISY Award Committee Chair Caitlin Lowman, BSN, RN, CCRN, surprised Sarah-Kate Wittig, BSN, RN, 4 Central, with the award for exceeding expectations in the care of a patient and his family.

The patient's family submitted an emotional nomination:

"I'm not exactly sure how or where to start about Sarah — this woman is powerful — an angel sent straight from heaven into our lives!

"Our loved one spent time in the hospital for about a month. Throughout his stay, he was moved between floors. It wasn't until we was placed on 4 Central and crossed paths with Sarah — from the moment we were introduced — we knew she wasn't just a RN — she was actually heaven-sent to our family!

"Not only did she do her actual job, she exceeded that by far, going above and beyond! She taught us things we didn't know. When it came to certain things in caring for our family member, she made sure he was never dirty and always dry. Anything he needed, he didn't even have to ask for — she made sure he already had it.

"Even on a day Sarah was not assigned to his case, she still came to visit him and check on him every free second she had. She made sure to never forget him. It was special and hard to even describe the connection between the family and Sarah. Once, when Sarah was not set to be with our loved one, he had a nurse he had never met before ... who was also a great nurse .... Medication was causing confusion and brain fog so he was refusing everything including treatments, etc. The moment she walked into that room, our loved one's whole world changed! He did everything he needed to do, communicated, took all his meds and treatments needed. Sarah always made him feel so safe and secure!

"On our day of discharge, we were told that it was nothing else they could do for our loved one and the only way that he could go home was on hospice. We were absolutely not OK hearing the news, and even though he was still in good sprits, it broke us as a family. Yet our angel Sarah was out in the hall ... tears in her eyes with ours ... we were filled with emotion but she bossed up and pulled herself together and went into that room to lift his sprits even more. Once we were packed up to leave, she comforted us all with hugs and tears.

"She talked about all the good days we had in there on 4 Central, because all the nurses on that floor was great to him. Sarah stood out like the brightest star in the sky. She put her blood, sweat, and actual tears into our loved one and for that we will forever and ever be grateful and will never know how to thank her and or you all as the hospital for having the greatest nurse in the world!

"Sarah is very bubbly and outgoing. She is a very big people person and you can tell that she was meant to be a RN — it is her calling from God to do that job! If anyone in the world deserves the DAISY Award, it would be Sarah. She is definitely the perfect representation. And if I could pick someone for Employee of the Year, it would be her!"

"If I was to ever have myself or any other family member be admitted onto 4 Central, I would request Sarah as our nurse! It would mean the world to my family to see her be presented with this award as I know our loved one would be beyond proud to see her receive it from the heavens above.

"You have nurses and you have angels in hospitals — Sarah is none other than the angel of UVA Health and the absolute BEST angels of RNs I have even encountered in my life! We adore and love you, Sarah — continue touching the lives of anyone you encounter during your career and allowing God to work through you in touching the lives of others!"

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"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.