Extraordinary Nurses Recognized at UP Health System – Portage

The DAISY Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes and stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY).

Nurses at UP Health System – Portage are being honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The DAISY Award recipients for this quarter are Katrina Helminen, RN, and Kirsten Erkkila, RN. Katrina and Kirsten are both nurses who work in the Family Birthing Center at UP Health System – Portage. 

"I really want to express my gratitude to the doctors and nurses at UP Health System – Portage. My wife felt her water break on the night of Dec 16, and our baby was in 37 weeks + 4 days. This is our first time being mom and dad, so we are super excited but anxious at that time. I would like to say thanks to two nurses – Katrina Helminen and Kirsten Erkkila. Kirsten answered my call on the weekend and got everything ready. During all three nights when we stayed there, she was always there and helped us from the delivery to the postpartum care. She patiently instructed us on how to take care of the baby and took care of my wife. She also helped us to take care of the newborn for three nights, so my wife and I can finally get a chance to rest. Katrina is another nurse who helped us tremendously. It took us around 15 hours for our delivery. She joined and helped us on the first night and kept helping us throughout the whole process. Katrina encouraged my wife a lot, especially during the second stage of labor, and firmly repeated: “good, nice, and strong."  She also answered all the questions and showed us to be better parents of newborns. Thank you to you both for your great care," stated a Houghton County resident.

UP Health System – Portage would like to also recognize the team of nurses who were nominated for the DAISY award:

• Diane Dunstan, RN
• Brandi Kari, RN
• Janelle Johnson, RN
• Miranda Heinonen, RN
• Jenny Kangas, RN
• Toni Clisch, RN
• Leanna Pennala, RN
• Kristy Vlahos, RN
• April Carne, RN
• Jasmine David, CRNA
• Jonnie Vanderhoef, CRNA
• April Amundson, RN
• Anita Johnson, RN
• Lisa Pietala, RN
• Danielle Hamlin, RN
• Tamar Gagnon, RN
• Fawn Vater, RN
• Nora Pennala, RN
• Carole Hokenson, RN
• Kayla Williams, RN

The DAISY Foundation is a non-profit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick 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 their patients and patient families.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by a committee at UP Health System – Portage to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the Honoree’s colleagues. Each Honoree receives a certificate commending her or him as an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” Honorees also receive a DAISY Award pin and a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

To nominate an extraordinary nurse with a DAISY nomination, visit UPHealthSystem.com/Daisy-Award. For more information on the DAISY award, please visit the DAISY Foundation website at http://DAISYfoundation.org