Daisy’s Place serving needs of Franklin Countians in growing numbers

From life’s personal strife often comes great inspiration.

That’s exactly what happened in 2003 during the biggest crisis Carolyn Wheeler O’Byrne had ever faced when her 17-month old daughter Daisy was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition that required a prolonged hospital stay, including multiple stays in Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Carolyn remained by Daisy’s side for 20 hours daily, something made more difficult in the ICU, where no bathroom, food or even a chair was available for the families of patients.

And she was without a car, 100 miles from her Athens, Al., home where her husband and three other children, on summer break, remained. But there was no way O’Byrne was going to leave her daughter’s side, as each day brought new fears it could be Daisy’s last.

“The stress and worry were magnified by the fact I had no place to rest, put my things, wash clothes or get something to eat while Daisy was in the ICU,” O’Byrne said.

Daisy’s prior times in ICU were just a day or two, but after she contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a prolonged stay in ICU became necessary.

It was God’s blessing that Carolyn had friends in Nashville, including one who worked at the hospital, who stepped up to help the young mother. The employee friend invited Carolyn to leave her personal items on a cart in her office and some other friends brought a 1980s conversion van and left it in the parking lot.

Suddenly, Carolyn had a place to keep her things and to take some much-needed naps. Those friends also picked up her dirty clothes and washed and returned them to her.

“Around 1 a.m., each morning I would cry my way to the van and try to sleep. I didn’t feel safe at all, but it was all I had and it was a Godsend,” O’Byrne said.

Back in Athens, Carolyn’s church family jumped right in to help take care of things at home, which eased some of the stress weighing down on her.

Carolyn’s prayers were answered when Daisy improved enough to allow mother and daughter to return home to Athens, though trips back and forth to Nashville were a regular part of their lives for the next several years.

After Daisy’s ordeal, Carolyn was inspired to help other families who face the same situation with a loved one’s prolonged hospital stay. Carolyn wasn’t sure when or how she’d do it, but her resolve never waned.

The answer came 16 years later, when Carolyn purchased a house near the North Alabama Medical Center in Florence and converted it to Daisy’s Place, a non-profit hospitality house that provides out-of-town family members of patients with extended hospital stays a free place to stay, eat, store their belongings and enjoy some much-needed peaceful rest.

“This was done on God’s timing, not mine. Because of Daisy’s story, it’s long been my prayer and dream to one day be part of something that would soften the hardship, stress and worry that is magnified when you have no place to rest, put your things, wash your clothes or get a bite to eat while taking care of your loved one in the hospital.

“I didn’t know what it looked like. I just knew what I was going to do. I knew I was being called and one thing led to another and Daisy’s Place is the result of God’s work,” O’Byrne said.

Use of Daisy’s Place is limited to applicants living outside of Lauderdale and/or Colbert Counties whose family member is hospitalized at NAMC, Helen Keller Hospital or another approved medical facility.

Up to two family members of each patient may stay at Daisy’s Place and they share a room with twin beds.

Referrals come from social workers, nursing unit supervisors or other medical staff.

With a capacity of four families, Daisy’s Place features a fully functional kitchen, washer/dryer and four bedrooms, each with two twin beds.

Caregivers wanting to use Daisy’s Place must complete an application at www.daisys-place.org, the website that also includes Daisy’s story, contact information, volunteer opportunities and a wish list of needs and several ways to sponsor the facility.

There’s also a link about booking O’Byrne, who now lives in Killen, for speaking engagements.

O’Byrne hopes all Franklin County residents know about Daisy’s Place in advance of an extended hospital stay for a loved one.

“Everyone in Franklin County needs to know we’re here for them. More of our guests are from Franklin County than anywhere else,” O’Bryne said.

The impact of Daisy’s Place in the lives of hospital caregivers far from home continues to grow, just as O’Byrne prayed it would.

Last year, O’Byrne was named the 2025 Shoals Woman of the Year for her unselfish dedication to families and caregivers. She was alsothe United Way of Northwest Alabama’s 2024 recipient of the Clyde W. Anderson Award for Philanthropic Leadership. Both were tremendous honors for O’Byrne she never expected or sought.

But seeing Daisy’s Place serving families in need every day is a more than sufficient accolade for its founder.