10/27/2025
We have our 3rd Quarter DAISY Honoree, Tara Novotny! She works in our ER and is very deserving of this award. 💚🌼
"Tara demonstrated a level of kindness, compassion, and empathy that went far beyond what is expected, offering comfort during one of the most devastating moments a parent could ever experience.
A mother arrived in our ER distraught and inconsolable after accidentally running over her one-year-old child with her own car. The trauma and heartbreak were overwhelming — this mother was in a state no parent should ever have to endure. After the tragic passing of her child, she remained in anguish, crying and repeatedly expressing fear and uncertainty about how she would care for her other four children. One specific concern she voiced was the loss of her vehicle, which was being impounded as part of the investigation. She was especially heartbroken that she no longer had a car seat for her four-year-old.
Without saying a word, Tara quietly walked out to her own vehicle. She unbuckled and removed the car seat she uses daily for her own child and gave it to the social worker to pass along to the mother. She didn’t make a scene. She didn’t seek recognition. She simply acted from the purest place of compassion, love, and humanity.
What Tara did was a rare and powerful act of empathy — something that cannot be taught, only felt. In a moment where so little can be said or done to ease a parent’s unimaginable pain, Tara found a way to give comfort, dignity, and support. Her actions created a moment that left everyone who witnessed or heard about it truly speechless.
Many times, in our careers, we encounter heartbreaking situations where it's difficult to make a meaningful impact. But Tara did just that. Her actions embodied the very best of Stillwater Medical Center’s culture and values — showing that in our community, we treat each other like family, no matter the circumstances.
There is a quote by Maya Angelou that says, “People may forget what you said, they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” That grieving mother may forget many details of that terrible day, but she will never forget the feeling of love, care, and support that Tara gave her. Every time she places her child in that car seat, she will remember that in her darkest hour, someone reached out and helped her carry the weight — if only for a moment.
Tara's selfless act is the very essence of what the DAISY Award stands for. She is more than deserving of this recognition."
Watch more here: https://stwmedical.com/DAISYTara
