Annie Loughlin, RN, BSN honored with DAISY Award

February 6, 2025

Annie Loughlin, RN, BSN with her DAISY award on February 3, 2025

Fifth-grade teacher Jill Scheper’s world was turned upside down when she received her cancer diagnosis last year, and the news that she had to complete 16 rounds of chemotherapy was heart-wrenching.

She was terrified.

“I thought my life was over,” she said. “It felt like it was the end of the world.”

When Jill arrived at the Infusion Center in Beaufort at the Keyserling Cancer Center to begin her treatments, she could barely see as tears streamed down her face. Then, she met her nurse Annie Loughlin, who has been working with Beaufort Memorial at the Infusion Center since March 2023. From the very first round of treatment, Jill was floored by Annie’s kindness during one of the scariest experiences of her life.

That kindness, paired with her professionalism, positivity and unwavering encouragement, earned Annie a prestigious DAISY Award on Feb. 3 at a small ceremony held in the Infusion Center.

Jill, a teacher, used that same word when describing Annie. During her treatment, Annie’s matter-of-fact, knowledgeable manner put Jill at ease, and she never shied away from answering any of Jill’s questions – and there were many, Jill said.

“She definitely knows her stuff. Her knowledge in the oncology field is impressive, and she taught me so much,” Jill said. “She took the time to explain everything to me and help me understand. It made me think, ‘OK, I can do this.’”

Chemotherapy takes a serious toll physically and emotionally, and there were moments where Jill considered quitting, she said. After her eighth round of treatment, she thought she was done.

Annie’s positivity and encouragement, however, kept Jill from giving up.

“Annie wouldn’t hear of it,” Jill recalled. “She explained why quitting wouldn’t be beneficial. She was just a teacher in that sense, and a coach. She told me, ‘Keep fighting, keep fighting for your family.’”

Annie’s willingness to answer Jill’s questions and her deep knowledge of infusion and chemotherapy underlined her status as a “teacher,” and during the ceremony on Monday, Annie’s manager Michelle Talley, RN, emphasized that fact.

“The compassion and excellent care she provides to her patients every day is profound,” Michelle said. “Annie is a team player to all her colleagues and advocates for her patients and will always find a way to teach her patients, no matter their level of education.”

She even expertly navigated Jill through using a cooling cap during her treatments, which allowed her to keep most of her hair.

“Annie had such a knowledge of that – she saved my hair,” Jill said. “She put the cold cap on every time, which is so labor-intensive and needs to be monitored. I kept a lot of my hair, and the hair I did lose is growing back.”

Jill added that the whole team at the Infusion Center during her treatments were kind and “willing to help out in any way possible.”

“The Infusion Center is staffed with wonderful nurses, front desk ladies and volunteers,” she said. “I couldn’t have had a better experience during the scariest time of my life!”

And Annie, Jill said, is the heart of that team.

Annie Loughlin and Jill Scheper smile at each other at a surprise DAISY Award ceremony for Annie

The two have become close friends – and after Jill met Annie the first time, realized that they were neighbors as well, with Annie living just down the street from the Schepers.

Her extensive knowledge and profound kindness during Jill’s treatment shows not only her dedication to her patients and the field of nursing as a whole, but the sheer power and lasting impact of encouragement, support, a friendly face and a caring hand.

“This means a lot to me and I couldn’t do it without my team. It really is a joint effort,” Annie said following the ceremony Monday. “I’m very honored and overwhelmed.”

Jill said that Annie made her feel seen, and like she was never alone.

“She’s loving, inspirational and professional, and all of those things blended together just make her a phenomenal nurse,” Jill said. “She’s an earth angel.”

About the DAISY Award

Developed in 1999 by a Seattle couple to honor the nurses who took care of their dying son, the DAISY Award has since been adopted by health care facilities all over the world.

Nominated RN's clinical skills and especially her/his compassionate care exemplify the kind of nurse that patients, their families and our staff recognize as an outstanding role model. She/he consistently meets all of the following criteria: