Okema is described as a "gentle soul" by those who know her. She is a true reflection of the mission at Florida Hospital DeLand- To Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ. She exemplifies and emulates this each and every day, with every single interaction. She has a true caring spirit and a genuine compassion for those she works with and those she serves.
She was nominated twice this past quarter - by a patient's family and by a patient himself. The patient's family shared how Okema took extra time and used other tools to help the patient with his discharge instructions. This patient was unable to read and the family shared this with her. They wrote how kind and considerate Okema was and how she protected his dignity and made a difference in his care.
The patient who nominated her had a sudden illness that was causing him a tremendous amount of pain and a great deal of fear. Okema's quiet, calm presence made him feel safe and she skillfully managed his pain. He wrote "Okema completely deserves the DAISY Award and my family cannot thank her enough for everything she did to keep me comfortable during my stay at FHD. This was a very hard experience for me and Okema made it bearable and helped me to heal!"