About the DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation was established in 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of an autoimmune disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, at the age of 33. DAISY is an acronym for Disease Attacking the Immune System. During Patrick's eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses provided to him and his family. One of the goals they set in creating a foundation in Patrick’s memory was to recognize extraordinary nurses everywhere who make an enormous difference in the lives of so many people by the super-human work they do every day.