Ashley Horton not only embodies every aspect of a DAISY Nurse, she also inspires those around her to be DAISY Nurses themselves. Although I could write a novel on the reasons she is a DAISY Nurse (advocating for patients even when they aren't her 'assigned' patients for the day, becoming a certified pediatric hematology oncology nurse as soon as she possibly could, even making oncology nurse spirit outfits for the team- the list could become an exceptionally long one), one particular moment comes to mind. I was recently reminded by a patient's mother that the very first "2 East Parade" actually started over in our oncology clinic. That very busy day shortly before Christmas, Ashley was looking for a way to cheer up the patients and team members on 2 East. She heard that two of our sweet oncology patients would be meeting over in clinic that day to help make the overwhelming and sometimes terrifying port access process seem a little bit less scary for our new patients. Ashley, knowing that the two would become instant friends, wanted to make the meeting even more special and immediately grabbed as many of our Christmas decorations as possible and ran over to clinic. As soon as their ports were accessed, Ashley jumped in with the idea of a Christmas Parade! The two girls immediately agreed and asked to sing Christmas Carols for the parade. They became an immediate hit, and quickly more patients and their families joined. The parade gained momentum, and after gaining permission from their doctors, of course, made its way onto 2 East where it grew to include volunteers, our nurse practitioner, and other 2 East team members. The parade brought smiles to every patient, family, and ETCH team member we passed.
Without Ashley, those moments that so many of us cherish would have never happened. To make the story even more special, I write this in May, less than a week since the most recent parade on 2 East. Ashley found a way to make sure that even during the most stressful, challenging, and sometimes sad days, the parade has a way to continue. She even stocked her locker full of parade supplies and made sure to let all of the oncology team members know that they could always grab them, as long as they put patient safety first and cleaned them before and after use of course.
During our times hosting these parades, Ashley has consistently shown excellence in her nursing care. She is constantly advocating for our patients and families. She makes it her mission to assure that our patients have top notch care. Her assessments and knowledge of Hematology Oncology care is extensive and always growing. Anyone would be lucky to have her as their nurse purely for her expertise in care, however, it's the significant and moving way in which she brings joy to all those around her, even on the darkest of days, that makes her a true DAISY Nurse. The parades on 2 East continue. Sometimes they include a patient and his or her nurse, and sometimes they include volunteers and many patients. No matter the size, they bring infinite joy and inspire all of those around to be the best caregivers we can be.