Liz Bright, Donation Program Manager for Sharing Hope South Carolina, nominated the team for their extraordinary care and compassion.

To recognize Nurses who are true examples of Nursing Excellence, patients, family members and co-workers may nominate individual nurses and nursing teams for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

In 2025 alone, nineteen lives were saved through the work of the OR Team. Liz delivered a sincere message of appreciation to the McLeod team on behalf of donor recipients and their families.

Tony Derrick, Chief Nursing Officer for McLeod Regional Medical Center, said, “This OR Team has made the largest impact on organ donation. You have embraced the process, and lives are being saved every day because of the work you do.”

Will McLeod, Chief Executive Officer for McLeod Regional Medical Center, attended the ceremony to thank the team and shared a personal story of how organ donation has impacted his life.

Representing the entire McLeod OR Team, these individuals were recognized for the first McLeod Health Team DAISY Award: Kelli Brooks, Jessica Patrick, Andrew McNeil, Rocky Cagle, Megan Blue, Victoria Dozier, Jennifer Jones, Sonya Goins, Brandi Wiggins, Joseph Peterson, Dawn Senseny, Diane Bass, Mason Bunn, Lisa Dozier, Margie Coe and Cheryl Gainey.

About the DAISY Nursing Award

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, California, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. 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. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique way of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Recipients of the DAISY Award are chosen by the DAISY committee, led by nurses at McLeod Regional Medical Center. Awards are given throughout the year at presentations in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors. Each honoree receives a certificate commending her or him for being 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.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.