TUPELO, Mississippi—North Mississippi Medical Center recently presented DAISY Awards to registered nurses Cassidy Cochran and Madison Mitchell of 3 Central.

Cochran and Mitchell were both recognized for making Christmas special for patients on their unit.

Cochran formed a special bond with a hospice patient she was caring for on 3 Central. “To lift his spirits before he enters eternity, Cassidy brought a Christmas tree and beautiful Christmas lights in his room,” a coworker wrote in Cochran’s nomination. “She wanted him to feel like he was at home for Christmas in his last days and hours. He and his family were so grateful for her act of love during the holiday season.”

On her day off, Mitchell was thinking of a cancer patient who had told her she wished she would be home for Christmas. She purchased a Christmas tree and excitedly decorated the patient’s room with the tree and colorful lights. “This patient was so thankful for Madison’s giving, servant's heart and called her an angel,” wrote a coworker who nominated Mitchell.

Cochran, who lives in Phil Campbell, Alabama, is currently working as a contract nurse at NMMC. A 2010 graduate of Red Bay High School, she completed cosmetology school before deciding to pursue nursing. She earned an associate degree in nursing from Northwest Shoals Community College in Phil Campbell in 2016 and worked from then until 2017 at NMMC.

Mitchell, who lives in Amory, graduated from Amory High School in 2016 and earned an associate degree in biology from Itawamba Community College in 2018. She completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mississippi University for Women in 2021. Mitchell was hired at HealthWorks! in 2016 and served as a nursing intern and extern on 3 Central before joining the staff full-time upon graduation.

The DAISY Award is an international program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary compassionate and skillful care given by nurses every day. Nomination forms are available throughout NMMC or at www.nmhs.net/daisy-award. For more information, call (662) 377-3431 or email daisyawards@nmhs.net.