Tripler Army Medical Center  –   Congratulations to 1st Lt. Helen Aldridge, Tripler Army Medical Center's most recent Daisy Award recipient!

Aldridge, a pediatric nurse, was nominated for the award by the mother of a patient who was diagnosed with cancer. She wrote that "Nurse Helen" showed an incredible amount of compassion to the patient and her family. Col. Rosemary Baugh, TAMC's chief nursing officer, presented the award on April 14.

The nominator wrote the following:

"Due to the nature of my daughter’s treatment, she was often confined to the pediatric unit, which can be difficult for a child to understand. Nurse Helen made it a point to ensure she felt as comfortable as possible during her stay. She would often remind my daughter about the different toys she could use to ride around the halls, offering small but meaningful distractions.

As time passed, my daughter struggled to cope with the prolonged hospital stay. It was heartbreaking to witness her withdraw, not understanding why we were still there or how long we would remain. I knew this was a normal reaction for a child in her situation, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch.

What stood out most was that Nurse Helen never gave up on her. She continued to encourage my daughter to leave her room and engage with her surroundings.

Nurse Helen’s unwavering compassion and dedication is something we will never forget. Her kindness made a lasting impact on my daughter, who will always remember her as someone who brightened an incredibly difficult time."