DAISY Awards Presented at Memorial Hospital
- Memorial Hospital
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
On December 22, 2025, Memorial Hospital of Chester held its DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognition ceremony. The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes, who passed away at age 33 from complications of the autoimmune disease ITP. During Patrick’s hospitalization, his family was deeply moved by the exceptional clinical care and compassion shown by the nurses who cared for him. Their gratitude led to the creation of the DAISY Foundation, which has since grown into an international program honoring nurses for the extraordinary care they provide to patients and families every day. DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
Nominees for the second half of 2025 were presented with a pin and certificate. The nominees included Jennifer Morgan, RN; Ariel Blair, RN; and Michelle Tripp, RN from Memorial Hospital, and Valerie Blechle, APRN, FNP-C from the Rural Health Clinics.
Memorial Hospital’s DAISY Award Honoree for the second half of 2025 is Michelle Tripp. Michelle was recognized for her extraordinary compassion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to patient care.
During the ceremony, Kelly Jany, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial, expressed her gratitude to staff following the reading of nominations. “Our nurses and staff embody the heart of healing at Memorial Hospital. Thank you for the extraordinary care you provide and for the dignity and hope you bring to our patients. We hope you wear your DAISY pins proudly as a symbol of the impact you make.”
DAISY Award Nominations
Ariel Blair, RN
Our mother was hospitalized for about a month at Memorial Hospital. She received exceptional care during her stay at the hospital. One nurse in particular, Ariel Blair, our mom still talks about. Her kindness, patience, and professionalism made an incredibly challenging time so much easier. Ariel went above and beyond to ensure our mother’s comfort and wellbeing. Her reassuring presence, attentive nature, and willingness to answer her questions gave our mother peace of mind when she needed it most. She just didn’t just care of her physical needs but also took time to listen. She was very supportive and empathetic. We are truly grateful for everything the staff did for our mom. We will always remember everyone’s kindness and wonderful care she received.
Valerie Blechle, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Valerie has been my nurse for years. She is so gentle and understanding. She has helped to keep me motivated to be better and keep me on the right path due to the death of my son. Anything from grief, pain, anxiety to anger, she deserves this award and beyond. She is an amazing, kindhearted angel, who has been blessed with this profession.
Jennifer Morgan, RN
Ms. Jennifer Morgan was super friendly and was just all around awesome and real respectful. It takes a special kind of person to deal with me and my goofiness, but she threw it right back at me and made me and my friend’s day. Her demeanor really benefitted my friend’s recovery.
From the moment I walked in the ER, Ms. Jennifer was so kind and compassionate. She took excellent care of me until she had to leave. She listened to my concerns and worries and she did her best to help me through all of my concerns. Before she left, she stopped to check on me. I appreciate Ms. Jennifer for everything she did.
Michelle Tripp, RN
I am honored to nominate Michelle Tripp for her exceptional compassion, professionalism, and dedication to patient care. From the first moment I met her, I could tell nursing was not just a job but a calling. During my time working with Michelle, she went above and beyond to make sure every concern was heard and every need was met. She treats her patients just not as patients, but as people, showing empathy, patience, and kindness in every interaction. Beyond her clinical excellence, Michelle demonstrates a true heart for healing. She consistently uplifts patients and colleagues alike, bringing positivity and calms even the most stressful situations. It is clear that her care extends far beyond medical treatment, it’s about dignity, humanity, and hope. Because of Michelle’s extraordinary care, infusion is filled with compassion and comfort. She truly embodies what the DAISY Award represents: dedication, advocacy, and compassion. It is with great pleasure I nominate Michelle Tripp.
Anyone can nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award. Nominations may be submitted at any time, either on paper or electronically at www.mhchester.com/DAISY-nominations.
