Greensburg, IN – December 28, 2025– There are moments in healthcare that linger long after the appointment ends. A nurse who noticed your fear and stayed a little longer. A provider who listened carefully and explained every step. A staff member who offered kindness when you needed it most. Those moments are the reason the Hospital Foundation of Decatur County created the Thankful Hearts program.
Thankful Hearts is a new way for patients, families, and community members to recognize the caregivers and staff at Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) who made a difference during their care experience. It was created to make saying “thank you” simple, personal, and meaningful.
The first recipient of Thankful Hearts is April Nowlin, recognized by a grateful patient for her compassion, dedication, and exceptional care. For April, the recognition was a reminder that the everyday work she does truly matters.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive this recognition,” said Nowlin. “Knowing that something I did made a difference in a patient’s life means so much to me.”
As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in Radiology, April performs advanced imaging tests that show Radiologists how the body is functioning. Because these exams often take longer than a typical X-ray, she spends extended time with patients, offering care, reassurance, and attention throughout their visit.
For many patients, it’s not just the medical care they remember, it’s how they were treated as a person. Thankful Hearts gives people an opportunity to reflect on those experiences and share their gratitude directly with the individuals or teams who supported them.
Through Thankful Hearts, participants can write a personal message of thanks, honor a specific caregiver or an entire department, and help support patient care at DCMH in a way that feels genuine and heartfelt. While many choose to include a gift, there is no required donation. What matters most is the message.
Every note of appreciation is shared with the staff member being honored. All DCMH employees and departments are eligible for recognition, from nurses and physicians to therapists, technicians, environmental services, and registration teams. Each role plays an important part in patient care, and every role deserves recognition.
When someone is honored through Thankful Hearts, they receive a personal message from the patient or family, a Thankful Hearts token of appreciation they wear each day, and the knowledge that their care left a lasting impact. These moments of gratitude help remind caregivers why they chose a healthcare career.
Patients and families can submit a Thankful Hearts recognition online through the Hospital Foundation website at dcmh.net/foundation or by completing a form available inside Decatur County Memorial Hospital.
Thankful Hearts is about more than giving. It’s about connection. It’s a way to honor compassion, celebrate care close to home, and strengthen the bond between patients and the people who care for them.
If someone at Decatur County Memorial Hospital touched your life, the Hospital Foundation invites you to share your thanks. Your words may mean more than you know.
Group photo L to R: Ayva Wiseman, Kristol Hadler, Mandy Lohrum, April Nowlin, Amanda Schutte, Rex McKinney
