Media release from AdventHealth Georgia:
Rome, GA — AdventHealth Redmond is proud to recognize Rebekkah “Reba” Lackey as the recipient of the first-quarter 2026 DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international recognition program that honors nurses for the compassionate and skillful care they provide to patients and families.
The DAISY Award was established by the family of J. Patrick Barnes to recognize the extraordinary difference nurses make in the lives of those they serve. Today, health care organizations around the world partner with The DAISY Foundation to celebrate nurses who exemplify clinical excellence, compassion and extraordinary patient care.
Lackey was nominated by a patient who experienced Reba’s kindness during a pre-operative appointment while navigating a difficult season in her personal life. During the appointment, the patient became overwhelmed and emotional when asked a simple question about how her day was going. Without hesitation, Reba responded with compassion, offering a comforting hug and a listening presence during a moment when it was needed most.
As they reviewed surgery preparations, Reba handed the patient a pen to complete paperwork, joking that it was her “good pen.” At the conclusion of the appointment, Reba encouraged the patient to keep the pen and offered words of reassurance: “You’ve got this. You can do this.” What seemed like a small act of kindness became a powerful reminder of hope and strength for the patient, who later shared her experience publicly on social media.
“Thank you, Reba, at AdventHealth Redmond,” the patient wrote. “You gave me strength when I needed it. You picked me up when I was down. You were so kind and genuine with me, even though we had just met.” The patient shared that she continues to carry the pen as a reminder that she can face difficult challenges and that sometimes a simple act of kindness can make all the difference.
As a DAISY Award recipient, Lackey received a certificate, DAISY Award pin, hand-carved Healer’s Touch sculpture, flowers and recognition from hospital leaders and colleagues. Through her extraordinary compassion and dedication to whole-person care, Reba demonstrates the lasting impact nurses have on the lives of patients and families every day.
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