Registered nurse Melissa Hoffman of the Birthing Center at F.F. Thompson Hospital was recently honored by UR Medicine Thompson Health with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses.
Hoffman is a resident of Pittsford and was the first to receive the award at Thompson.
The nonprofit DAISY Foundation was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by his family members. Barnes died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses in Seattle while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a difference in the lives of their patients and families.
Hoffman was celebrated during a small ceremony where she received a certificate, a pin, and a hand-carved sculpture called A Healer’s Touch. In addition, she and her colleagues enjoyed cinnamon rolls, Barnes’ favorite treat during his illness.
Thompson Health Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer Hazel Robertshaw noted during the ceremony that often when a nurse receives a DAISY Award, the response is, “I didn’t do anything special. I was just doing my job.”