I would like to nominate Diana L. Jones, Bariatric care specialist, Educator and Nurse for the DAISY AWARD. This nurse's clinical skill and especially her/his compassionate care exemplify the kind of nurse that our patients, their families, and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model. She consistently meets all of the following criteria Integrity, Flexibility/ Innovation, Service, Partnership, Diversity & Results.

I am a 54 year old female who first met Diana Jones in 2013 when I began my Bariatric Weight Loss journey. Diana headed the weight loss classes at KP, Woodland Hills Hospital. I found her to be strong in her requirements, although not always to the liking of the students. She held strong and did not waiver even when students complained that they didn't think they could fulfill the requirements of perhaps just losing the minimum weight, or walking each day, or eating less and upping one's protein intake. Diana knew that we could do it if we really wanted it badly enough, and also knew that if we were to be successful in the journey, these minimal requirements would make us successful.

I had type II diabetes and high blood pressure at the time and needed to get my AlC down to between 7 and 8 in order for her to sign off on the surgery. Although it took me taking insulin for 3 months I was finally where I needed to be and was I approved. I had my surgery 2/7/2014. I walked as Diana had told us to do while in the hospital, and was home in 3 days. I healed quickly and kept walking and losing weight.

In June of 2014 I had a mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014. I didn't know where to go or who to have as a surgeon, so knowing Diana had worked in Woodland Hills I asked for her recommendation of a surgeon. I told Diana that I had lost 65 pounds to have "a date", not a date with Chemotherapy. I was devastated. Diana,always the upbeat, glass is half full gal, pointed out how lucky I was. I, being the glass is half empty gal, wondered how I could be lucky to have cancer. Again Diana pointed out that although I was not lucky to have cancer, that the timing in my life was perfect.

How could that be I asked. "Janine, you are healthy, and don't have diabetes or high blood pressure anymore. You are going to fly through any surgery or chemo and be healthy and heal so much quicker than you would have 6 months ago." Had Diana not been so positive and encouraging, I surely would have gone down the rabbit hole of depression.

I had my first lumpectomy Aug 5, 2014 and another on Aug 19, 2014. Neither produced a clear margin and in both lumpectomies a tumor was found. I would call Diana when I was at KP and she always took the time to say Hi and give me words of encouragement. When Chemo was in order, again Diana being the positive an upbeat person that she is, told me that since I no longer had the excess weight and fat on my body, surely I would sail through chemo, and I did.

I kept in touch with Diana throughout my chemo treatments and visited her in Ventura. She would say how wonderful I looked, even when I was wearing a head wrap to cover my bald head. She expressed how proud she was with my attitude through all I had been through, and even asked me to speak to her class when I felt better. When it was time to begin thinking about a mastectomy and reconstruction, again Diana pointed out the positive. How lucky I was to have lost all that weight and now I had the extra skin and could have new breasts from my own skin and tissue. She pointed out that I was going to have a whole new body and a full tummy tuck as I had been hoping for when I embarked on my Bariatric weight loss journey. Again, had I not met Diana, surely I would have gone down the rabbit hole of depression. Her positivity and caring words were just what I needed.

When I was scheduled for surgery and pre-operative appointments I would call Diana and visit her if she had time. She sent emails and made the occasional phone call to check on my progress. She said she would visit while I was at the hospital after surgery, and she did. I had a double mastectomy with tram flap April 13, 2015. Diana took the time to come to ICU on two occasions and again came to my hospital room and sat with me on another.

I believe that Diana L. Jones possesses the Integrity, Flexibility/Innovation, Service, Partnership, Diversity and Results to receive this award. Integrity for staying strong on requirements for the bariatric surgery even when she could have easily passed students through the class. She knows that what she teaches produces results and that accepting less would result in failure of the student and could be harmful as well. Flexibility in showing the positive when the negative was hard to oversee. She possesses the criteria of Service, Partnership and Diversity in the highest manner.

I do hope that you will highly consider Diana L. Jones for the DAISY Award. Had it not been for her words of encouragement and her faith in KP and in myself I would not be where I am today. Today, April 26, is my 54th birthday. But today, April 26 is truly my BIRTH DAY. The birth of my new life and a new future. I will cherish and am grateful for my new friendship with Diana. I look forward to speaking at her bariatric class and at her support group in the near future, and hope to be there to see her accept this award of which I feel she greatly deserves.