Nurse Holly Luft and nursing tech. Melissa Lemire recognized for extraordinary patient care. 

Melissa Lemire, left, and Holly Luft.

Nurse Holly Luft and nursing tech. Melissa Lemire recognized for extraordinary patient care. 

LUDINGTON — Registered nurse Holly Luft, a supervisor in the Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Emergency Department has been nominated and selected for the DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The announcement was made at a ceremony today in her honor at which the former patient who nominated Luft, Linda Ybarra, was present.

Nurses are nominated for the DAISY Award by patients, families and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Awards are given three times a year, with each honoree given a certificate and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch.” Online nominations can be completed atwww.spectrumhealth.org/Ludington by clicking on the DAISY Award section at the bottom of the page. At the Ludington Hospital, nomination forms and boxes are also at all nurse stations, in lobbies and in the medical offices.

“My husband was taken into ER late one afternoon with severe pain in his stomach,” Ybarra’s nomination stated. “Holly was his nurse. She was constantly with my husband and me and made sure we understood what the doctor was explaining. After midnight, we were told my husband had liver cancer. We were devastated. I was a mess! Holly made sure I got a bite to eat and some coffee. It was a very long night. As we waited for the specialist to come and see us, Holly was concerned about me getting some rest so she went and got a bed and wheeled it right next to my husband’s bed so he and I could stay close. She was God sent to us that night.”

“I was so surprised and very honored!” said Luft, of her nomination and selection for the DAISY Award. “Linda always tells me how grateful and thankful she is for my help that day. I was just happy to give them that time together on such a horrible day for her and her husband. Helping my patients is just what I do.”

Melissa Lemire, nursing technician in the emergency department at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, was selected as the Bee Award winner by registered nurse Holly Luft, who was named as the DAISY Award winner.  The DAISY Award celebrates and honors extraordinary nurses. Each DAISY recipient gets to select someone who helps the nurse in caring for the patient.  Luft selected Melissa Lemire, a coworker in the emergency department. The announcement was made at a ceremony Thursday, August 22 at the hospital.

“Melissa goes above and beyond every single day,” said Luft. “She makes my job easier. I have a deep appreciation for her and all of the work she does for the staff and our patients.”