Memorial Announces Misty Theriot May 2026 DAISY Award Winner

Congratulations to Misty L Theriot, BSN, RN, CPHQ, FACC a nurse at the Heart and Vascular Center at Lake Charles Memorial Health System. She was nominated by a patient's care giver for the dedication and expert care she gave to a patient.

From the nominator:

As the Valve Clinic Coordinator at the Heart and Vascular Center, Misty personifies extraordinary nursing by blending world-class clinical expertise with a level of compassion that has forever changed our family's experience. 

Throughout our 84-year-old, hardworking mother’s medical journey—including multiple complex procedures leading up to her TAVR (Aortic Valve Replacement) surgery—Misty was our constant unwavering pillar of support. She went far beyond her professional obligations, remaining available to us both day and night as situations arose. Even when Mom passed out at home and went in an ambulance to the ER, Misty was only a phone call away, providing immediate assistance. During our most uncertain moments, her presence provided a sense of love, peace, reassurance, and steady guidance that only a truly dedicated healer can offer. 

 Misty’s impact is defined by these exceptional qualities: 

Masterful Education & Proactive Advocacy: Misty is an expert in her field and has a rare gift for teaching. She translated high-stakes technical complexities into language that empowered Mom, her six daughters, and our family. Her proactive advocacy ensured that every stage of Mom's care was seamless and that we were true partners in the process. 

Emotional Intelligence & Personable Care: Misty possesses a high degree of emotional intelligence, knowing exactly when to offer a clinical explanation and when to provide a comforting word. She is incredibly personable, making patients feel valued and genuinely cared for like a friend. Her "above and beyond" approach is rooted in a loving spirit that makes a frightening environment feel safe. 

Humility & Teamwork: Despite her significant impact, Misty remains remarkably humble. Whenever we shared praises with her, she was quick to mention that her work is a team effort, highlighting her trustworthy nature and the respect she has for her colleagues and peers. 

Professional Excellence: It is clear why Misty is held in such high regard at Lake Charles Memorial. Her reputation for excellence is well-deserved, yet she remains entirely focused on the human side of nursing. 

It is our sincere hope and prayer that Misty receives this DAISY Award. While this recognition is just a small token of our gratitude, she truly deserves to be honored for the exceptional care, love, and tireless dedication she pours into her work and her special calling every single day. She is an amazing angel! 

On behalf of my Mom and her six daughters (my five sisters) and family, we thank you for being part of Mom's health care and especially for having Misty serve our family. We appreciate you!

About DAISY:

In late 1999, at the age of 33, Patrick Barnes awoke with some blood blisters in his mouth. Having survived Hodgkin's Disease twice, he was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with the auto-immune disease, ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura).

Said his father, Mark Barnes, "We are so blessed that we were able to spend the eight weeks of his hospitalization with him and his family. During those weeks, we experienced the best of Nursing. We were there to see the clinical skill that dealt with his very complex medical situation, the fast thinking of nurses who saved his life more than once, and that nursing excellence that took years to hone to the best of the profession. But frankly, as a patient family, we rather expected that Pat would have great clinical care. That was why he was in the hospital. What we did not expect was the way his nurses delivered that care - the kindness and compassion they gave Pat and all of us in his family every day. We were awed by the way the nurses touched him and spoke with him, even when he was on a ventilator and totally sedated. The way they informed and educated us eased our minds. They truly helped us through the darkest hours of our lives, with soft voices of hope and strong loving hugs that to this day, we still feel."

Just days after he died, the family began talking about what they would do to help fill the giant hole in their hearts that Pat’s passing had left. His wife came up with the acronym, DAISY, standing for diseases attacking the immune system. As they discussed what to do in Patrick’s memory, first and foremost, they wanted to say Thank You for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every day. That is when the family created The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses.

For more information regarding Misty's nomination, click here >>>