SALISBURY – Two nurses at the Salisbury VA Health Care System were honored mid-May with the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

The award is part of the Daisy Foundation’s mission to recognize extraordinary and compassionate nursing care given to patients and families.

The recipients were Wendy A. Van Den Bosch and Wendy A. Safrit.

The Daisy Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family.

Barnes died at age 33 in late 1999 from complications of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. Daisy is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

The care Barnes and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired the awards for nurses who make a difference in the lives of their patients and patients’ families.

Nurses may be nominated by patients, family members and colleagues. Recipients are chosen by a committee at Salisbury VA Health Care System.

Awards are presented throughout the year at celebrations attended by the honorees’ colleagues, patients and visitors.

The award certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.”

Honorees also receive a and a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe.

“When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night,” said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of the Daisy Foundation. “These unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human, extraordinary, compassionate work they do.”

Salisbury VA nurse executive Elizabeth Smith said the hospital is proud to be among the health care organizations participating in the Daisy Award program.

“Nurses are heroes every day,” she said. “It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and the Daisy Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”