NEWBERRY — Brenda Koon, Intensive Care Unit nurse at Newberry County Memorial Hospital, was named the second recipient of the DAISY Award on Feb. 13.

The DAISY Award was established in memory of Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 of the auto-immune disease ITP. The family created the international award to thank nurses worldwide for the care they give each day.

Every quarter at NCMH nominations are taken from colleagues, peers and family members for the nurse they feel should receive the DAISY Award.

“It’s an honor to be awarded, especially being nominated by family members it makes it even more special,” Koon said.

Koon has been a nurse for close to 20 years and said that her love for nursing came in her early childhood when she would visit her mother, who was a nursing assistant in a nursing home.

“I would go and visit all of the elderly people and I always enjoyed being there to talk to them and make their day better and I thought that would be something I would want to do in the medical field,” Koon said. “What I do really makes a difference and I’ll continue doing the best I can to make people’s lives better.”

Koon’s husband, Chris, could not be more proud of his wife for receiving the DAISY Award.

“She’s a very good nurse, she’s got a big heart and she really genuinely cares about her patients, we’re just very proud of her. I’m very proud of her. She’s very gifted at being a nurse and she really loves what she does,” he said.

Paul Dove, who was one of two families that nominated Koon for the DAISY Award commended Koon for not only being a caring nurse, but also providing care to his mother.

“My mom was here in October for hernia surgery at 99 years old on her birthday, and the attention that Brenda and the whole staff gave her was so unique. While we stayed with mom a lot of the time we were comfortable leaving her here with the staff. They gave her constant attention and she went from being very low from surgery, to three days later being what was back to normal for her. The care that she got was exceptional,” he said.

NCMH CEO Bruce Baldwin expressed his joy of Koon receiving the DAISY Award.

“Brenda is the epitome of a caring nurse. We are very proud that she is part of the Newberry Hospital team,” Baldwin said.

Brenda Koon is the second recipient of the DAISY Award. Pictured from left to right are: Husband Chris Koon, Brenda Koon, daughter Madison Koon and Paul Dove, one of Koon’s nominators.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_Daisy-1.jpgBrenda Koon is the second recipient of the DAISY Award. Pictured from left to right are: Husband Chris Koon, Brenda Koon, daughter Madison Koon and Paul Dove, one of Koon’s nominators. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@newberryobserver.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.