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"What followed was anything but quiet." 

Two UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center nurses are being hailed for their heroism at a Washington, D.C., event in which 16,000 people ran to support Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The race kicked off at the Washington Monument. Runners from across the country and around the world crossed Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River into Arlington, Virginia, ran back over the bridge, along the Tidal Basin and Hains Point, and returned to the monument.

DAISY Committee Chair Hilary Woodier, RN, MSN, CCRN, Nursing Supervisor, surprised Jamie Stern, CN, BSN, CCRN, Nursing House Supervisor, and Christine Keaveny, RN, Surgical Services, with the DAISY Team Award at Haymarket Medical Center.

M. Kate Edwards, BSN, RN, CPAN, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, nominated Stern and Keaveny for "sprinting into action" and more at the 52nd annual Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk Credit Union fundraiser:

"For nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering as a medical runner for the event. Every year, we hope our presence is unnecessary — just a precaution. And yet, each year reminds us why we show up. It was a beautiful, crisp spring morning in Washington, D.C., and we arrived at the medical tent near the Washington Monument before sunrise, donned our vests and fanny packs filled with supplies, and said a quiet prayer for an uneventful day." 

"What followed was anything but quiet." 

'True Test of Our Team'

"By mile 3.5, we encountered our first runner in distress — a young woman experiencing shortness of breath and chest tightness, likely due to exercise-induced asthma. We calmly coached her through her breathing and walked her to the nearby emergency medical services (EMS) station. More runners followed: leg cramps, dehydration, minor injuries — even requests for something as simple as a hair tie. Every moment was met with patience, care, and good humor — Jamie Stern to the rescue! 

"The true test of our team came just past the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, when a runner flagged us down — there was a woman down!

"We sprinted into action, arriving to find two nurse practitioners already with the patient: a 29-year-old woman who had just experienced a seizure and was in a postictal state. She was nonverbal, lying on her side with frothy, blood-tinged sputum coming from her mouth.

'Calm, Focused, and Steadfast'

"Jamie and Christine immediately began triage: checking her skin, offering warmth, removing their own layers to keep her from becoming hypothermic. They provided physical care and emotional support not only to the runner, but also to her anxious companions who had stopped with her. 

"For nearly an hour, they remained calm, focused, and steadfast while awaiting EMS transport. During that time, they ensured the runner's airway remained protected, monitored for recurrent seizure activity, and provided continuous reassurance to her companions. Their actions may very well have saved her life." 

'Exceptional Empathy and Patience'

"A physician from Penn State Hershey Medical Center who witnessed the incident later sent this message to race organizers: 

'The care these volunteers showed during the race … very likely may have saved her life. They showed exceptional empathy and patience … should they have not been around, it is entirely possible the runner would have tried to run again or experienced an aspiration event that could have resulted in serious complications.'

'It's Who They Are'

"Throughout the day, Jamie and Christine demonstrated every quality we value in exceptional nurses. They showed unshakable compassion for every runner who needed help — from minor cramps to life-threatening emergencies. They offered calm reassurance to frightened participants and their families, communicated with empathy — and delivered skilled, responsive care under pressure."

"Their teamwork, professionalism, and genuine love for nursing were on full display — whether they were sprinting toward an emergency, warming a hypothermic patient with their own clothing, or simply handing out a much-needed hair tie. They arrived before dawn, worked tirelessly without complaint, and ended the day proudly, even as we found ourselves stranded downtown. That kind of selflessness and spirit can’t be taught — it’s who they are."

'Honor and Heart'

"It is with pride, admiration, and deep respect that I nominate Jamie and Christine — they exemplified not only excellence in clinical care — but compassion in action. They represented UVA Health and Haymarket Medical Center with honor and heart. I am proud of them every day — but especially that day!"

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.

Patients or their famliy members, visitors, or team members, can submit a nomination for a UVA Health Culpeper, Haymarket, or Prince William Medical Center nurse.