SALISBURY – Sierra Bowen, patient care technician on the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), has been selected as TidalHealth Peninsula Regional’s April 2024 Sunshine Award recipient for her professionalism, kindness and compassion shown to a family member at a very difficult and emotional time.

A fellow healthcare provider wrote:

Several family members arrived at the hospital’s main entrance to see and pay their respects to a loved one who was passing. As they entered, they encountered an issue with malfunctioning elevators in the Layfield Tower.

While many were young and healthy enough to take the stairs, the grandmother of the patient could not climb the stairs and chose to remain in the lobby while the elevators were repaired.

Sierra, who happened to be helping with the discharge of a different patient at the time, quickly noticed the grandmother’s distress. She informed the woman that as soon as she escorted her patient to his car, she would return to assist her, which she did.

Sierra placed the woman in a wheelchair and personally took her to her grandson’s room using the staff elevators in the hospital. Sierra’s quick and compassionate action ensured that the woman, who was incredibly grateful, was able to say her goodbyes to her grandson prior to his organ donation.

Bowen was honored in a ceremony before her coworkers and presented with fresh flowers, a pin and a certificate recognizing her exceptional devotion to team and patient care.