2010 DAISY Award Winners

Here's a complete listing of the DAISY Award winners at Children's Hospital Los Angeles for 2010. Continue reading or jump to the winners by using the menu on the right.

Christina Cruso, RN III, BSN, CPON receives DAISY Award for December 2010

When it was announced on Dec. 13, 2010, that Christina Cruso was the DAISY Award winner for that month, she became the 75th nurse awardee at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. During the surprise ceremony, the conference room was filled with many of Crusos’ co-workers, friends and supporters, including her husband, George Cruso (a nurse in the Emergency Department), and one of her patients, Chase Stecyk, and his family.

Cruso shares the honor of winning a DAISY Award with 74 of her fellow Children's Hospital Los Angeles nurses, and now joins a group that has been characterized by Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, FAAN, chief nursing officer and vice president, Patient Care Services, as the "Who’s Who of CHLA nursing."

Cruso (formerly Chris Smith; she and George married last October) served as co-captain of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Nautica Malibu Triathlon team this year, along with Rod Hanners, senior VP and COO. Hanners commented on Cruso’s win by saying: "Chris is just excellent. I cannot imagine anybody better suited for the award."

In fact, several of Cruso’s co-workers submitted quotes included in her nomination package:

“Chris is a confident and knowledgeable nurse who is a valuable resource to her colleagues. She takes the initiative to make our unit better by benefiting the staff, patients and families.”

“Chris is the nurse that I want there when there is a sick patient. She is calm, efficient and a great team player. Her approach to patients and families is wonderful. She puts 200 percent of her energy into her work. She leads the CHLA Triathlon Team with patience and grace and we all love her for it. No one is more deserving.”

“I think she is very deserving of this award. She is a great leader and innovator. When she is in charge in the Day Hospital, you have the sense that things will go well during the day. She knows what is going on with all nurses on the unit and helps out personally. She has given 110 percent to Nautica and needs much recognition for this.”

“One of the qualities that I most admire and respect is Christina’s professionalism. I always know when I call or go to the Day Hospital/Clinic that she will treat me respectfully and listen to me. I have observed her many times with patients, and she is professional and respectful of them also.”

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Cheryl Barton, RN, MSN, NP receives DAISY Award for November 2010

Cheryl Barton, RN, MSN, NP (Cardiology) has been honored with The DAISY Award at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Cheryl was honored by her co-workers, friends and family members in a surprise ceremony held Nov. 9. Guests included Cheryl’s husband, Todd, who is in the California Army National Guard, and her daughter, Jasmine. The ceremony was put together just in time for Todd, who soon left for deployment to Iraq, to attend.

In a celebration held dear at our hospital, Cheryl now joins the many other nurses across the United States honored each month with this prestigious national award.

She received the Healer’s Touch statue, a living daisy plant, a DAISY Award pin, a certificate and the praise of her many friends and co-workers.

Since every nurse who receives The DAISY Award reminds us that her/his entire team is deserving of recognition and that it takes a team to provide great patient care, all the nurses and staff in the recipient’s unit are treated to Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls at each presentation.

Cheryl’s many nominators had these kind words to say about her:

"Cheryl acts with genuine compassion and empathy in all aspects of her professional and personal life. She absolutely exemplifies nursing and, as a role model, helps me to become a better nurse every day!"

"Cheryl embodies the definition of a team player. She is always delivering patient care with a smile and unmatched compassion. Cheryl’s attention to detail ensures her patients get the highest level of care."

"It is always a pleasure consulting with Cheryl on cases due to her expansive knowledge base as well as her respect for other disciplines. She always goes above and beyond for her patients, families and colleagues."

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Stephanie Brown, RN, BSN receives DAISY Award for October 2010

Stephanie Brown, RN, BSN (PICU) has received The DAISY Award for October. She was surprised in an award ceremony held on Oct. 28, 2010.

Brown was joined by her co-workers in a celebration now very well-known at our hospital. She joins the many other nurses across the United States who have been honored each month with this prestigious national award. She received the Healer’s Touch statue, a living daisy plant, a DAISY Award pin, a certificate and the praise of her colleagues.

Since every nurse who receives The DAISY Award reminds us that her/his entire team is deserving of recognition and that it takes a team to provide great patient care, all the nurses and staff in the recipient’s unit are treated to Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls at each presentation.

Brown’s nomination is all the more meaningful because it was submitted by a parent of a patient for whom Stephanie cared.

Some excerpts from that nomination form:

“Her commitment to the patients goes beyond just knowledge. We saw how she took care of my son, how she not only did her job, but truly cared for the patient, how she loved not only the patient, but the whole family. She would give hope to what seemed hopeless.

“Every visit my son had, she was there for any questions, for information and support. I didn’t want to leave my son alone, but she reassured me that she was there and she wouldn’t let anything happen to him. She was someone to rely on. Some nurses just do their job; she does what her heart tells her. I thank her for all she did for my son. We will never forget her for giving us support, love, affection — people she had never met before. I think that takes courage. Thank you for everything, and God bless her.”

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Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN, CPON receives DAISY Award for September 2010

Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN, CPON (BMT Unit) has been chosen as September’s winner of The DAISY Award at Children's Hospital Los

Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN, CPON Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (accepting her award at the  September ceremony)

Donna now joins the many other nurses who have been similarly honored. Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer, calls our DAISY winners the “Who’s who of CHLA nursing.”

The following excerpt from Donna’s nomination form tells the story of her dedication to the profession of nursing and the young patients for whom she cares.

“Donna is an outstanding nurse who is deserving of this recognition. She has been a nurse at our hospital since May 1993. As her supervisor and colleague, I have witnessed her superb clinical nursing skills as well as her abilities as a leader, teacher, mentor and patient advocate.

“The knowledge and expertise required to care for acutely ill children who are undergoing bone marrow transplant entail extreme competence and confidence in providing critical oncology care. She has repeatedly demonstrated excellent nursing care for many patients over the years throughout this time-intensive procedure. She is often a key staff nurse who is dedicated and top-notch preceptor and nursing resource. I hear so often that patients and families ‘adore’ her.

“She is a leader on the BMT unit. Her leadership abilities include charge nurse, primary nurse, liaison with team members, and role model of nursing care and documentation, as well as direct patient care routinely or urgently. Her peers and patients are secure, safe and happy when Donna leads the way.

“Additionally, Donna is an awesome teacher and mentor for students and novice nurses on the BMT unit. She graciously, calmly and expertly shares her wealth of knowledge and support with many. She assists staff to integrate and become part of the BMT social team easily. She reassures them when times are tough and has a great sense of humor and positive attitude, which is a strong attribute. She is involved in our national pediatric oncology organization and has participated in many local and national educational endeavors.

“One of her greatest strengths is her passion and role modeling of patient advocacy. This characteristic of Donna’s is perhaps the pivotal reason why I nominated her for this award. Time and time again as she takes the lead primary nurse role for many of our BMT patients, she displays the utmost compassion and dedication to each of them and their families. She is extremely detailed in their day-to-day acute care, orchestrating their ongoing plan of care and communicating and advocating to all health care providers the best quality of care that each of her patients deserve. Whether it involves pain management, nutritional support, chemotherapy administration or social support, she puts forth maximum effort and communication at all times.

“The nurse-patient therapeutic relationship or interaction that I recall often when I see Donna on the unit is related to a long-term patient for whom she cared recently from his admission, readmission and unfortunate death. As I walked through the unit over many weeks and months during this child’s hospitalizations, I would pause and witness Donna’s interactions with this young boy. I would observe her tender touch to his face and head and arms as he was in his ‘swimming pool’ bathtub. I would hear her sweet voice telling him stories and words of love and support. I would see her rocking him in her lap and gently rub his ‘sore’ belly or head as they watched a movie or TV together.

“These were picture perfect moments of what Donna Quiroz and nurses do here at our hospital and how extraordinary they are. His parents were not able to be present all the time due to other family responsibilities. Donna recognized from Day One that after a rocky road since his diagnosis and time spent on the 4 East oncology unit that this boy’s experience on BMT would be nothing short of difficult and lengthy. Her care and compassion for this patient was just natural to her and I knew she loved him dearly. In my mind, the truth is told that her care and compassion is extraordinary and unforgettable — and makes me and everyone else remember why we are pediatric oncology nurses.

“Donna Quiroz exemplifies a DAISY nurse and is so deserving of this award. I wish her to join this special group of nurses.”

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Lindsay Quirk, RN, BSN receives DAISY Award for August 2010

Lindsay Quirk, RN, BSN, Emergency Department (ED), was chosen to receive The DAISY Award for the month of August. And it was an interesting turn of events that led to her nomination.

Our hospital's Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rod Hanners  brought his daughter to the ED for a broken wrist. After that experience, he was so impressed with Lindsay and the quality of care she provided to his daughter and his whole family that he nominated her for a DAISY Award.

"The biggest thing with Lindsay," says Rod, "is that she just really connected with my daughter."

"When I got back into work that Monday, I dropped off a card to Lindsay that my wife and I had gotten for her," says Rod. "But I wanted to do more, so I spoke with Mary Dee [Hacker, chief nursing officer], and she suggested I nominate Lindsay."

An excerpt from Lindsay’s nomination form:

"I had the misfortune of needing to bring my 17-year-old daughter to the Emergency Department with a broken wrist. As unpleasant as that event was to my wife, younger daughter and myself, the silver lining was the opportunity to meet and get to know Lindsay Quirk. Technical competence was a given… what stood out was the spirit with which she approached her duties that captivated us."

"Lindsay embodied all the qualities we aspire to for every caregiver and non-caregiver at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and while it took an injury to my daughter to see her in action, I am thankful that I had the chance. In the words of my daughter coming out of anesthesia (I call it 'truth serum'): 'Lindsay...' (Lindsay says, 'I'm here.') 'I love you!' says my daughter."

"She had such a positive, reassuring personality and immediately connected with my anxious wife, inquisitive younger daughter and injured older daughter — easing their fears and frustrations with the injury.

"As a father I couldn’t have been more pleased, but as the chief operating officer of this hospital, I couldn’t have been more proud. In those late hours on a Friday evening, I had the privilege of experiencing what so many families experience each and every day — a super committed nurse who cares so much about the work she does, all on display through her gestures, her eyes, her movements, her patience and her spoken words."

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Margaux Chan, RN, BSN, receives DAISY Award for July 2010

Margaux Chan, RN, BSN, of the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), has been named the recipient of the prestigious national DAISY Award for July. Margaux was thoroughly surprised by her award announcement ceremony on July 8.  After being present for DAISY Award ceremonies for many of her co-workers, this time it was Margaux’s turn!

She came in to work that day never suspecting that she would win the award. But when she saw her husband, Kevin, walk in, all that changed.  In fact, according to reports, she was so emotional that co-workers had to give her a box of Kleenex.

"PACU really goes all out for their DAISY nurses," DAISY Award Committee chair Marion Antoku says.  "Margaux received a daisy-patterned crystal vase from Tiffany, a gift card from Nordstrom and a framed photo around which the entire PACU staff wrote personal notes. They also served bagels, coffee and other great snacks."

Margaux now joins the many other nurses across the United States who have been honored each month with this prestigious national award.  She received the traditional Healer’s Touch statue, a daisy plant, a DAISY Award pin, a certificate and the resounding praise of her co-workers.

DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.  The Foundation was formed in January 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

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Maria Dakan, RN, BSN, receives DAISY Award for June 2010

She was honored by a large group of her co-workers during an afternoon tea party on 5 East. A conference room filled with well-wishers and friends greeted Maria as she opened the door in complete surprise. Maria joins the many other DAISY nurses at our hospital and across the country that are celebrated each month through the national nonprofit DAISY Foundation.

Maria's nomination form was filled with praise for her, professionally and personally. Here’s an excerpt:

"I would like to nominate Maria Dakan for the DAISY Award. I have worked with Maria for 22 years here at CHLA. I feel this is a person who is like the unsung hero. She has been working on 5 East her entire nursing career and I can say she is such a wonderful role model for everyone on our floor. She is so clinically smart that young and experienced nurses go to her for help on the floor. She is an awesome resource and just knows so much. She is always there to help anyone, and when you have a patient who is not doing well and she is in charge you have a sense of comfort that you will survive the day because she will be there when you need it.

"She helps without even asking and is always a step ahead of you when you are swamped — she has already been there to do a task for you. She is admired by everyone and has such talent for being a great listener to the nurses. I think she is so fair and really full of wisdom about things.

"Our patients and families love her and they know she will speak to them with genuine kindness and understanding. She is truly an advocate for the patients and gets to know each family and patient when she is in charge. I once had a patient who loved helicopters and he so wanted to go to the roof of the hospital to see one of the transport helicopters. Well, she was the one who coordinated it with our transport team to really make it happen. It took a couple of days, but she persisted, and finally he was able to go and see the helicopter! It was an awesome sight and this young boy was so excited. She will go out of her way to make our patients happy and we all appreciate everything she does with grace and style! She really deserves this award, and it is long overdue. She is my hero."

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May 2010: Maria Lapinid

Maria Lapinid, RN, BSN, CPON (accepting her award at the May ceremony)

Maria Lapinid, RN, BSN, CPON (Hematology/Oncology Day Hospital) has been named the DAISY Award winner for May.  Maria was joined by her co-workers and friends in a surprise celebration now very well known at our hospital on May 17.

Maria's nominator had these kind words to say about her:

"I have known Maria for 12 years and have worked with her in Hem/Onc for almost all of them. Here at Children's, Maria is and always has been one of the friendliest, most helpful, efficient and thorough nurses I have ever met and had the opportunity to work with.

"She is always there for her patients and families, especially her primary patients. I know they feel comforted knowing they have a contact in her. Someone they can go to with their questions and concerns. She is a great mentor and resource to me, personally, and to all.

"I nominate Maria for the DAISY Award. She deserves it and has definitely earned it!"

In addition to this glowing nomination, Dr. John Quinn wrote a song, based on the lyrics to "Maria" from "The Sound of Music."

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April 2010: Miguel Aventino

Miguel Aventino, RN (PACU) was named the latest winner of the prestigious DAISY Award at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in a surprise ceremony on April 17.

These are some of the kind words in Miguel’s nomination form:

Nomination #1:

"Miguel Aventino is a wonderful asset to the PACU. He comes to work every day and greets everyone with a wave and a smile. Just his positive attitude makes our unit feel energized. You just cannot help but smile when he acknowledges you with a simple hello and asks you about how your morning or day is going.

"He is willing to actively listen and offer comfort during those rough days. He occasionally takes a kind effort to approach you with a simple and pleasant compliment that can change the course of your day. His presence gives us comfort and confidence when doing patient care because he delivers exceptional support and teamwork. He is cognizant of his surroundings and either offers help or even just do the task in need without request. His knowledge is valuable and extensive and he is approachable when we seek his advice. Miguel is an excellent example of a DAISY Award winner. Men, as nurses, are underrepresented and often unrecognized. It is my pleasure to nominate such a worthy candidate who can be a model to all male nurses of what a DAISY nurse is."

Nomination #2:

"Miguel is a rare combination of being an excellent nurse and a genuinely wonderful person. He always has a good word and a big smile for everyone he works with and his pleasant demeanor makes the unit a happier place to be. No matter the assignment, he never complains and goes about his work with compassion and sensitivity. Patients and parents appreciate his kindness, professionalism and sincere compassion. He stays late if needed, comes in early if asked, and jumps in to help you without being prompted. Miguel is truly a team player in the PACU. He is a dedicated family man and a dedicated co-worker. I guess to sum it up, when I know Miguel is working on my day – it makes me smile."

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March 2010: Cathy Foster, RN, MSN, PNP

Cathy Foster, RN, MSN, PNP, was joined by her co-workers, her friends and her daughters to celebrate receiving her DAISY her award. 

These are some of the kind words in Cathy’s nomination form:

"It is right in principle that those should be the best loved who have contributed most of the elevation of the human race and human life. But if one goes to ask who they are, one finds oneself in no inconsiderable difficulties." -Albert Einstein, 1934

"The quote above describes our surgical admitting manager Catherine Foster, RN, MSN, PNP, who is always working to "elevate" our unit to its highest potential. Dedicated to the advancement of patient care, Cathy shows true passion for her work. Her job is unique in that she functions as an RN, nurse manager and pediatric nurse practitioner. In all three roles, she takes her job in stride with no complaints, and always with a smile on her face."

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February 2010: Alice Loo, RN, MSN, CPON

Alice Loo, RN, MSN, CPON (Hematology/Oncology Clinic) has been awarded the February DAISY Award at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

She accepted the award with her signature modesty in a surprise ceremony surrounded by co-workers and friends on Feb.22. Alice's numerous nomination forms were filled with praise for her tireless dedication.