James, Melancon named TGMC Daisy Award recipient

Infection Control manager Laura Melancon and registered nurse Michelle James were presented Terrebonne General Medical Center’s Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses earlier this year.

Founded by Mark Barnes and his family in 1999, the award recognized the efforts nurses perform daily. In all, 37 medical facilities present the award monthly.

Melancon, who joined the TGMC team in 1989, started as a staff nurse in Critical Care Services before moving to Infection Control in 1994. She was appointed manager in 2000.

“It was quite an honor to receive this award. It really makes you feel appreciated when you are recognized for doing a good job,” she said.

James joined the TGMC staff in January 2007, first starting out as a licensed practical nurse. She is currently assigned to 4 North at the hospital.

“I was so surprised when I was awarded the Daisy Award that I was rendered speechless,” James said. “Although I touched someone very special to be nominated for this award, I don’t feel that I did anything special. I was always taught by my parents to treat everyone as I want to be treated and that’s how I live my life, and it is the golden rule I follow in my nursing career.”

“It gets hard sometimes and you want to throw in the towel, but you have to think this could be my family member lying in that bed. For that reason, I don’t single out and treat any one patient better than the rest. To me they are all VIPs (very important patients),” she added.

The Daisy Foundation’s goal is to fight diseases of the immune system. It includes programs to help fund research to improve treatment and find a cure for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), contribute to bone marrow and blood drives and provide support to ITP patients and their families.