Awards and Achievements
Jennie Edmundson Nurse Freddy Hug Honored With The DAISY Award
Published: Sept. 16, 2021
Jeff and Debbie Borden have been in and out of area hospitals since 2006. That’s when Jeff suffered the first of several strokes.
The most recent came on July 6. Jeff woke up from a nap and couldn’t move his entire left side. What followed at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, his wife of 41 years said, “was literally the best hospital experience that we’ve had.”
Soon after Jeff was admitted to Jennie Edmundson’s medical-surgical unit, the Bordens met his night nurse, Freddy Hug, BSN, RN. It wasn’t long before they found out what a special caregiver they had.
“I was crying so hard,” Debbie recalled of accompanying her husband to another hospital. “And Freddy was asking if he could get me anything. He was concerned about me, and I wasn’t even the patient.”
Debbie also noted how Hug took plenty of time explaining the treatment plan and answering their questions. But what Hug did when visiting hours ended is something she’ll never forget.
“I’ve always stayed with Jeff through his strokes,” she said. “I’ve always spent the night at these hospitals. I’d never leave his side. Freddy had to tell me that I had to leave. And I was beside myself. I was sobbing. I was so upset because, if you have a loved one who has gone through everything Jeff has, it’s terrifying to leave them. And Freddy said, ‘You know what? You call me any time at night. I’m here until you can come back in the morning.’”
For his compassionate care, the couple nominated Hug for The DAISY Award. Now working on the Critical Care Unit, Hug was surprised last month with The DAISY Award by his coworkers, his girlfriend and the Bordens – joining via an iPad.
“That day on the ICU was very memorable,” Hug said. “I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. I was brought to tears to know that I made the impact I did on their family.”
He added: “I don’t feel like I deserved it. I did everything I could to go above and beyond taking care of that family, but that’s part of the job. I couldn’t have done it without a great team and a great manager. They kind of instilled those values and those skills to me to be given such an award.”