Traci Van Gerpen - Daisy Award

First off, let me say that the entire staff at this hospital is an extremely caring, dedicated, and phenomenal group of people to work with. From the emergency room staff, hospital care, and hospice nurse, we are extremely grateful for the entire experience.

My brother, Bruce, was seen in the emergency room on July 27th with what we thought was simple nausea and fatigue.  He had gone through heart surgery in December, and we figured this was some lingering effects. Little did we know that he would not make it home and a stay at Iowa Specialty would be required.  He was admitted to the nursing floor where Traci entered our lives and our hearts forever.  Not only does she exemplify the duties she has been trained to do, but her heart and soul are in it as well.  My brother was treated with dignity, high regards for his comfort, privacy when needed, as well as concern for the entire family waiting and praying for the unexpected results.  Traci shared her knowledge and understanding in a common format that we could understand and grasp. She laughed while we told family stories, comforted when times were tough, and assured us that replacement staff would be fully informed as well.  She would be what I call the one shining star in the darkest of skies.  On a personal note, I had to leave before my brother’s final breath.  Traci assured me that she would continue to watch out for the remaining family members, that Bruce understood, and there was no doubt in my mind that our wishes would be carried out to the end.  It's hard to put into words all that Traci means to us, but we hope that you can see how deserving she is of this high reward.  God bless, Traci, and everyone at Iowa Specialty.