Mattie once delivered a civilian’s baby while seeking shelter underground from a German bombing during World War II. Mattie helped a lot of people while serving as a nurse in Europe— and for 35 years after, she has helped even more as a nurse at CHI Health’s Good Samaritan Hospital.
It was at Good Samaritan Hospital where staff member Shelly Jorges met Mattie—when Mattie was admitted as a patient to the Transitional Care Unit at the age of 93. Mattie shared her life’s story with Shelly: the war; her love for nursing, her fondness for gardening, and how she cherished the time she spent caring for her great grandchildren. Mattie was loved by her family, and Shelly was moved by her life story.
So Shelly and her staff submitted a request to honor Mattie with the DAISY Award to recognize her incredible life and nursing career.
In a hospital setting, humankindness can take many forms. It can be a friendly hello, a cup of coffee, or maybe directions to a specific room or unit. For families of patients, humankindness is connection and support. It’s the peace they feel knowing the empathy a caregiver has for their family is true and genuine.
When the Good Samaritan staff presented the honorary DAISY Award to Mattie, both the hospital staff and her family honored her legacy together. Long-time employees and physicians who had worked with Mattie stopped by to say hello. And Mattie reminded us that it is never too late to celebrate an extraordinary life.
“When you really get to know your patients, everyone has a unique story to share.”—Shelly Jorges
