MetroWest Medical Center is proud to announce its DAISY Award winner: Stephanie LaFleur, RN.
Stephanie LaFleur, RN, pictured far left in blue. 
MetroWest Medical Center leadership hosted the surprise awards ceremony that brought together some of Stephanie’s longtime colleagues to present her with this honored national recognition.
“We are extremely proud of Stephanie and cherish her passion for nursing as her lifelong career,” said Naomi Seymour, Interim Chief Nursing Officer. “We are grateful for each and every one of our nurses and their dedication to providing safe and compassionate patient care. This award truly reflects the values of our exceptional caregivers.”
Stephanie’s nomination was written by her sister and peers. Some excerpts include:
“…fortunately for healthcare, there are still some people who enter the (nursing) profession because they are basically nurses. They are loving souls who find joy and purpose in dedicating themselves to the care and comfort of others… These people are jewels and I have been fortunate to have met many of these jewels over the years… We have a Diamond! …Stephanie is the epitome of what it means to be a nurse…Stephanie began her career over 45 years ago…while attending nursing school at Framingham Union Hospital…she took a job as a housekeeper, working weekends and so got a glimpse of working life in a hospital. After graduating, she took a job as a 5th floor nurse. She made the switch to telemetry before finding her real place as a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) a few years later. It was hard work, but the reward was worth it. She cared for those facing challenging and frightening circumstances and devoted herself to the care and comfort of patients and their families. She treated them as if they were her own family…”
“…the ICU staff attended to a high school teenage girl who was hit by a large truck while riding her bike. It was a very sad situation. This teenager was in intensive care for months struggling to get her life back. She had a long recovery ahead of her. Some 20 years later, at her daughter’s christening, Stephanie felt a pat on the shoulder from the person behind her. Turning to them, she recognized the teenager, now a beautiful young woman, and the two embraced. Tears of joy flowed everywhere. The love and support that Stephanie and many others in the ICU showed this young girl left a lasting impression on her and undoubtedly helped her in her recovery. Of the challenges she faced, she remembered the good. That’s what being a nurse is about.”
“…Stephanie is the person who takes care of the people we care about. She greets everyone with a smile and a friendly face that gives you a sense of reassurance and makes you feel like you are in good hands. She listens, offers comfort and hope, and works with others to care for the whole person, old school care at its finest. In the ICU, caring for end-of-life patients and their families, she was a quiet comfort, a hand to hold, a human touch that let them know they were not alone. After working most of the time in the ICU, Stephanie took a job at the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)… (with) the same dedication to calming people down, comforting them, and helping them with the challenges they’re dealing with are faced. Stephanie shows the same dedication and compassion for others outside of work. Always willing to help in any way she can and lighten the load of others…No one deserves more…an award that honors an incredibly dedicated and exemplary nurse and human being…Her kindness and selflessness made an impression on hearts Countless people… (Stephanie) created a legacy just by being herself, showing compassion and devotion to others…”
The DAISY Foundation (short for Diseases Attacking the Immune System) was established in November 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 from an autoimmune disease. The Barnes family were deeply touched by the kind and compassionate care Patrick received the DAISY award during his many hospitalizations and founded it in Patrick’s honor and memory. Nurses are nominated by patients, families and other members of the healthcare team. A committee reviews the nominations to determine who the DAISY recipient will be. A reception will be held in honor of the DAISY recipient, who will receive a hand-carved Healing Touch statue, certificate and DAISY pin. A banner signed by the DAISY recipient hangs at the nurses station. Today, the DAISY Award is presented in over 54,000 healthcare organizations in 35 countries and territories.
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About MetroWest Medical Center
MetroWest Medical Center is the largest community healthcare system between Worcester and Boston. It offers services from two locations: Framingham Union in Framingham and Leonard Morse in Natick. MetroWest Medical Center strives to meet the healthcare needs of local residents by delivering advanced medicine and individualized care directly to the local community. To learn more, visit www.mwmc.com.
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