OSF HealthCare Saint Clare Medical Center is proud to recognize Candy Foster, RN, as the 2026 DAISY Award winner, honoring her extraordinary compassion, patience and commitment to caring for the whole person. Candy was nominated by the family of an elderly patient who shared how her thoughtful, attentive care made a meaningful difference during a challenging hospital stay.
Recognizing the patient’s need for comfort, dignity and connection, Candy took time to address even the smallest details – adjusting room lighting, locating a tablet so the patient could listen to her church service and hymns and finding a pink robe to help keep her warm while participating in physical therapy.
“Candy's kindness and love were overflowing and overwhelming,” the nominator shared. “Her patience for her patients was bursting with love. This is what compassion and living the OSF Mission means. Every patient deserves a nurse like her.”
“We are privileged to be affiliated with the DAISY Foundation. Patients and families can recognize our nurses that go above and beyond to make them feel safe and cared for,” said Maria Chicchelly, chief nursing officer at OSF Saint Clare.
The DAISY Award program can be found in over 2,000 health care facilities in all 50 states and 14 other countries. An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, The DAISY Foundation was formed in November 1999, by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). During Pat’s eight-week hospitalization, his family experienced the best in nursing care and compassion provided not only to Pat but to everyone in his family. One of the goals they set in creating a foundation in Pat’s memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses and to thank them for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every day, just as they had experienced.
The DAISY Award winner receives an award pin, certificate, “Healing Touch” statue, bouquet of daisies and a banner displayed in their department for the year.
From the nominations for the DAISY Award, a committee from OSF Saint Clare selects one recipient annually. To recognize an employee who has provided exceptional care, submit a nomination to honor their dedication at osfgratefulpatient.org.