Forrest Health Names DAISY Award Winner for August
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (August 3, 2024) Forrest Health has named Hannah Ladner, RN, Labor and Delivery, as its August DAISY Award winner. The DAISY award, which is presented monthly to a deserving nurse or nurses, exemplifies clinical expertise and compassionate care and is recognized as a role model in the nursing community.
Hannah’s nominator was in a high-risk pregnancy due to her blood pressure. About 5 months into her pregnancy, the nominator was diagnosed with preeclampsia. At one of her appointments, “there was no pulse, and I was told my sweet baby had passed away,” she said. “I was filled with so many emotions. I didn’t do anything but blame myself. The same day, I was sent to Forrest General Hospital, where I was scheduled for a Caesarean.
“In walked Nurse Hannah (Ladner) with the most radiating smile that instantly made me smile. Even though the circumstances, she truly warmed my heart with her smile. She told me she would be there for me every step of the way. She prepped me for the C-section, asked how I was feeling and, ‘Can I come with you to your C-section?’ I responded, ‘Yes!’ That may seem little to others, but her asking me was everything.”
“Surgery time came. I thought I would be strong. As the anesthesiologist administered the epidural, that’s when the tears instantly filled my eyes. It hit me that it was really about to happen. Nurse Hannah comforted me and wiped away my tears.
“My sweet baby was born. Although she was a stillborn, I was happy to get to hold her. Nurse Hannah was gentle with me. She also made sure I was always in good spirits. When the morning shift rolled around, a new nurse walked in. I just wanted Nurse Hannah to come back. I spent all day waiting for her. When she walked in, I instantly smiled. I had missed her so much. She helped me walk around and shower.
“The next day I was going home. When the morning rolled around, she had put a box of beautiful keepsakes and photos together of my baby. It is my favorite memory that reminds me of both of them. Her outgoing kindness was infectious. It instantly filled my eyes with tears. We hugged very tightly knowing this would be our last time seeing each other. She said, ‘I’ll never forget you or your baby. Thank you for being so nice.’ I began to cry and she hugged me even tighter. She doesn’t know how much she meant to me. She was so sweet, kindhearted, caring, and full of love. In reality, it’s me who will NEVER forget Nurse Hannah. Her outstanding nursing will forever hold a special place in my heart. She deserves everything God has planned for her.”
Ladner, who received her degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, has been employed at Forrest General for more than two years. The Hattiesburg resident said she grew up in a family where her aunts were all nurses, “so I think that is where my journey into healthcare began. When I was a teenager, I had surgery at Blair Batson (Children’s Hospital in Jackson), and I remember the nurses and how they really impacted my stay. It was a really hard time, and they meant so much to me and made it so much easier. After I got older, my mom went through a really hard time, and I remember seeing the nurses come and go. There were nurses who were good and ones who weren’t so good. I just knew I wanted to be the one who made the difference like my nurses did for me and those that were there for my mom.”
As a nurse in Labor and Delivery, Ladner said she feels very lucky to work in that department. “l tell people all the time that I’m living my dream working in L&D,” she said. “It’s not always an easy job. I feel like this patient’s story is an example of that, but I feel like I get to make a difference in people’s lives, whether it’s the best day or the worst day. I’m just grateful that I get that opportunity.”
“A compassionate and committed nurse, like Hannah, and others, who have been nominated for and honored with the DAISY Award during the past year, are an integral part of what makes Forrest Health such a caring place for your healthcare needs,” said Debbie Sanford, Forrest General Hospital Interim Chief Nursing Officer. “I am so proud of Hannah and how hard she works to make our Forrest Health patients feel appreciated and cared for in such a warm manner.”
To nominate a nurse for a DAISY Award, visit forresthealth.org/daisyaward.
ABOUT FORREST HEALTH
Forrest Health is a system of healthcare organizations formed to increase access to quality health care in south Mississippi. Forrest General Hospital is its flagship hospital. In addition to Forrest General, Forrest Health hospitals include: Highland Community Hospital, Picayune; Jefferson Davis Community Hospital & Extended Care Facility, Prentiss; Marion General Hospital, Columbia; Pearl River County Hospital & Nursing Home, Poplarville; Perry County General Hospital, Richton; and Walthall General Hospital, Tylertown. Forrest Health is also home to The Orthopedic Institute and Institute of Neuroscience, both in Hattiesburg, as well as a variety of healthcare clinics throughout its 19-county coverage area.
