As part of National Nurses Week, Catawba Valley Medical Center presented
The DAISY Award for the first time. The DAISY Award is designed to recognize
exceptional nursing care. Join us in congratulating Patrick Lancaster,
who serves as a Registered Nurse on our Critical Care Unit.
Patrick was nominated by the daughter of a patient who he took care of
in February 2022. Read her full nomination below:
"Nurse Patrick Lancaster shines a bright light on many patients and
families. His light shone brightly toward our family in February 2022.
My father, the 89-year-old patriarch of our family, entered the ICU after
years of declining health and a cardiac incident. Patrick cared for our
father, and mom’s husband of almost 65 years, in the final hours
of his life. I am the daughter who stayed by Dad’s side; my other
sister was in another room at Catawba Valley Medical Center, caring for
my mother, who was also admitted to the hospital.
"I met Patrick for the first time on the day of Dad’s death.
Patrick was the nurse assigned to Dad, whose kidney function had ceased.
Patrick would be by Dad’s side as he was weaned off life-support
systems. Patrick showed such genuine care. He asked me, “Tell me
about your dad.” He was interested in who he was as a person since
Dad, unconscious, could not communicate for himself. Patrick asked many
questions and was amazed that Dad received a full scholarship to college
after playing high school football for only two years. He sensed that
my dad, an educator whose parents had died by the time he was 16 years
old, was an extraordinary man. He sensed rightly. I trusted him to treat
my father with honor and grace. And he did.
"Dad passed around 4 am on 2/22/22. He just slipped away.
"The funeral home director who came to receive Dad’s body told
me that he and Patrick had a warm and uplifting conversation about Dad
at that time. Even as his body was being taken away, Dad was being honored.
"Fast forward to February 2024, two years later, I kept thinking about
Patrick and spoke about him to the critical care nursing director at CVMC.
I wanted to make contact with Patrick one more time to say thank you.
I received Patrick’s email and reached out to him. He responded,
and we met in the CVMC lobby one evening. I will never forget our meeting.
I gave him a program from Dad’s Celebration of Life service. A beautiful
picture of Dad was displayed on the cover. Patrick looked at it and said,
“I remember him.” He then looked more intently at the picture
and said, “He was a good man!” He began to weep. And so did I.
"In my heart, I know that Patrick’s presence helped my dad peacefully
exit the earth and enter his eternal reward. You see, my dad was a giver,
a helper, a compassionate man. And it only stands to reason that a person
of great stature should care for another person of great stature at his
departure.
"When I learned of the DAISY Award, I knew I needed to nominate Patrick
Lancaster. If there is anyone who represents the heart of nursing, it
is Patrick. He has forever made an impression on me and our family. He
stood with us, as he has many others, and gave his very best! Our family
owes an eternal debt of gratitude! He is a jewel."
The DAISY Foundation was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes
after he died of complications of the auto-immune disease ITP in 1999.
During his hospitalization, they deeply appreciated the care and compassion
shown to Patrick and his entire family. When he died, they felt compelled
to say “thank you” to nurses in a very public way. To learn
more, visit DAISYFoundation.org.