Thomas Peak, BSN ’15, a registered nurse in the Brigham and Women's Hospital Emergency Department, received a DAISY Award for the compassionate care he provided to an elderly patient at the end of her life.  DAISY Awards are a way for patients and families to recognize nurses for the exceptional care they provide every day.

“We are extremely grateful that my mother was treated with respect and was provided exceptional care by Tom during her final hours,” the patient’s family shared in the nomination letter “He was very calming, not only to my mother, but also to her family. Tom worked around us as while we prayed with her, never interrupting us, but still performing all his nursing tasks. He patiently answered all our questions and looked out for us too, ordering bereavement trays because he knew we had not eaten all day. We are nominating Tom for his compassion, respectfulness, and professionalism.”

During the ceremony to honor Peak in October, Anna Meyer, a 2018 graduate of the DNP program who serves as Associate Chief Nurse of Emergency Medicine for Brigham Family, presented Tom with his Daisy award certificate, pin, and Healer’s Touch Statue. 

“Having the opportunity to recognize the achievements of a fellow alumni is a privilege and reminder of the unique bond we share,” said Meyer.  “It is inspiring to see the growth and success of someone who began their nursing journey in the same place.” 

The DAISY Award was created in memory of Patrick Barnes who passed away at the young age of 33 from complications Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Patrick’s family was so moved by the care, compassion, and teamwork that all the nursing staff provided to their son/husband, that they created The DAISY Foundation. 

To honor his memory, Meyer presented Cinnabons to Peak at the ceremony because when Patrick was in the hospital without much of an appetite, his father brought some in and Patrick not only ate one but asked his father to bring more the next day for him and his nurses.