The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day, according to a WGH release.

Kesterholt was nominated by Katherine Frank, the wife of a patient, for going above and beyond.

“Every Nurse at Warren Cancer Care Center is special,” Frank said. “Each one moves at hyper-speed changing IVs, checking vitals, and monitoring patient well-being – while sharing a kind word with patients. I could write a sweet story about each of them.”

“Today, I nominate one nurse in particular for a DAISY – Kathy Kesterholt,” she said.

Photo submitted to Times Observer The latest DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse winner at Warren General Hospital is Registered Nurse Kathy Kesterhold.

“In July 2021 my husband was in month 22 of near-biweekly chemo for metastatic pancreatic cancer. It was tough.”

“For the first time, chemo was making Jack’s beard thin and fall out,” Frank said. “Watching it slowly fall out was distressing for him. Jack grew his beard in 1979 and had not shaved it off in 42 years. He kept it neatly trimmed and it was important to him.”

“We think about women losing their hair during cancer treatment, but it is equally hard on men,” she said.

“Jack was looking at an old photo of himself that July day,” Frank said.

“The photo highlighted his lush beautiful beard, and he was talking softly to himself about how sad it was that it was falling out.”

“His nurse, Kathy, was bustling around him changing his chemo IV’s and started to walk away… when she stopped,” she said. “She paused, turned around and came back to Jack. She gently asked to see his photo. She asked him about his beard and about his feelings seeing it fall out. I think she suggested that maybe it was time to shave it off, so he could take control of the situation.”

“Kathy and Jack looked deeply at each other during this conversation,” she said. “She spoke to him from the heart. Jack was listening and that evening, he quietly assembled his shaving gear and shaved his beard off for the first time in 42 years.”

“It was not easy for Jack to do that,” Frank said. “Kathy’s compassion and thoughtful words made the difference for him. She helped Jack face yet another emotional turning point with cancer with calm resolve. I will forever remember Kathy’s kindness to my husband with gratitude.”

“On a lighter note, most of Jack’s chemo sessions ended with Kathy tapping him on the back as he walked out of the infusion room while she sang, ‘Hit the road, Jack,'” she said. “They would both chuckle. The ritual meant a lot to Jack. Kathy was at the right place and time to do it as often as she could.”

Nurses may be nominated for the award by patients, families, and colleagues. Recipients are chosen from among the nominees by a committee at Warren General Hospital.

Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honoree’s colleagues, patients, and visitors.

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, according to the WGH release.

WGH Chief Nursing Officer Joe Akif said, “We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in The DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly-valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”

“Congratulations Kathy Kesterholt RN, Warren General Hospital is honored to have an exceptional nurse like you, working here.”