Our understanding of nurses and the important role they play in the patient's life began when my husband suffered a massive stroke. Following a week in the hospital and a discharge to a rehab hospital only to discover a bowel obstruction requiring surgery, we ended up at HCA Largo Medical Hospital for multiple weeks of stay before a skilled nursing home. During this time, we were cared for by a multitude of nurses; some good, some great, and one Extraordinary Nurse, Alissa Perrigo, who became our greatest blessing.

Alissa is special because of her ability to connect with patients while educating and offering support to family members. She brought knowledge from her days on a stroke trauma team into the hospital room. She educated us and she taught other nurses and aides about the needs and routines to follow with a stroke victim even though he was admitted for an entirely different condition. Whenever we mentioned her name to other nurses, they would say, "she's a good nurse." On the days Alissa was assigned to his room, she would get him out of bed to eat his meals. She would prop and protect his weak side and teach him exercises to do while in bed. I can list the number of things that she alone took the initiative to do in order to preserve the use of his limbs for rehab but it would be a long list.

Along with the loss of the use of his left side, my husband experienced anxiety from the stroke and was afraid to be alone. He was the patient who constantly hit the call button. While other nurses would close the door and block him out to attend to others, Alissa never became frustrated, always treated him with dignity and respect, and never ignored his concerns, no matter how small. She remained calm, offering soothing words and advice to both of us. One day when he was particularly anxious, rather than get frustrated, she parked her cart in his room so that he could be comforted until I arrived. She worked with him and the doctors to get his medications scheduled in a way that was best for him, his anxiety, and his insomnia. She always made his room her last stop at the end of her shift and made us feel most important, even though, I am sure her other patients received the same treatment. On at least one occasion, because he begged, she stopped in to check on him after her shift on another wing.

In our darkest moments, Alissa offered us optimism, motivation, and compassion. Alissa embodies everything a nurse can be and more. Because of her positive energy, incredible attentiveness to the patient and family's needs, and her willingness to go the extra mile, it is an honor to nominate Alissa Perrigo for The DAISY Award, she is most deserving of the recognition.