McLaren Greater Lansing nurse Tamilikia Foster was honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the exceptional care nurses provide every day.
The nomination, submitted by a patient, reads as follows: “I gave birth at McLaren and had to have an emergency C-section due to severe pre-eclampsia. Tamilikia was the nurse who helped me that night and was by mine and my baby girl’s side during my entire stay – which ended up being four long days. She was our night nurse, and we built a strong connection with her. She took not only insanely great care of me – cleaning me up after surgery, making sure I didn’t get any blood clots, encouraging me when I wasn’t feeling well, and motivating me to walk when I finally got off a medication that made me super sick – but she also took amazing care of our daughter, Sophia.”
The patient went on to talk about the way Foster went the extra mile with her and her family, saying, “Because I was so sick, she would take her out during the night so we could rest, helped my husband learn how to take care of a newborn while I was out of commission, and even went out of her way to get me shampoo and conditioner when I forgot to pack some. She was an advocate for baby and me, making sure we did not have visitors if we did not want any, maintaining my privacy when scrubbing me in for surgery, and showing us all kinds of tips and tricks about babies that we had never seen before. Whenever her shift came around, she would come in and tell us she had been thinking about us and praying for us, which was so incredibly heartwarming. We truly built a bond with her; She is truly someone who puts everybody before herself. She is an incredible human being and deserves this award and so much more.”
Foster was recognized by hospital leadership and coworkers as she received a certificate commending her for being an “Extraordinary Nurse,” and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.
Foster works in the labor and delivery department and has worked at McLaren for almost 20 years and she is heavily involved in community outreach and internal programs. During the height of COVID-19, Foster handed out 800 gift boxes to non-nurse employees thanking them for their tireless efforts and hard work during the unprecedented time, and she is a big advocate for her patients and colleagues.
“It’s a blessing to be recognized,” said Foster. “Growing up in a tumultuous environment as a kid, if we ended up in the hospital, the health care workers would come to help and bring warm blankets and food, so I always looked at them as angels sent. That experience made me want to go into the nursing field where I can help my patients get well and I can educate them so they feel prepared when going home.”
About the DAISY Award
The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation, based in Glen Ellen, California, was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune disease. The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.
“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced firsthand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. “Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the superhuman work they do. The kind of work the nurses at McLaren Greater Lansing are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of the DAISY Award.”