The day my Mum was admitted to Newton Medical Center is a day I mostly want to forget for the rest of my life. She stopped breathing on the way to the hospital from her home in Newton. We later learned she had double pneumonia, and we were told, bluntly, thank goodness, that Mum was very sick, and it wasn’t clear whether she would even pull through.

After she was stabilized, she was transferred to the ICU, but there were still so many unknowns. Later that same day, we met Amanda, who just happened to be on duty that day and the following two days. That was the greatest blessing we could have asked for. It was immediately clear that she was someone special.

Mum had been intubated that day, and Amanda came over to my stepdad and me to explain how things worked in the ICU and walked us through the ICU rules. Though we were both very stressed, Amanda took the time to explain absolutely everything, extraordinarily clearly and with utter compassion. She had (and still has) this uncanny ability to make it seem like we were the only two people in the hospital, and that the only patient there was Mum. I can't say I’ve ever experienced such incredible empathy and kindness.

We left that night and returned the next morning. Since Amanda’s mom was traveling to Montana, she switched her schedule and was there again on Sunday (and Monday). She came out of the ICU while we waited for Mum’s testing and extubation, and personally came to find us in the waiting room to bring us back. But it wasn’t just that; she genuinely wanted to know how we were doing after that difficult night. She knew we’d all been through so much, and she took the time to check in. It was an incredible act of kindness.

For the next two days, Amanda tended to Mum’s every need. In fact, though Mum was no longer considered an ICU patient by Tuesday, as we awaited transfer to another room, Amanda still treated all of us as if Mum were her top priority. Every ring of the buzzer. Every question or concern. Every single worry. She made it all seem manageable.

We were all a little bummed when Mum was transferred to another unit, but by the end, I knew we had met an extraordinary human being. I am certain that Amanda's care is one of the major reasons why Mum survived and is now back home, well on the road to recovery.

A DAISY Award for her isn't just an option, it’s necessary. We would all be better off if everyone received the kind of care she gave, not just to my mother, but to our entire family. I have nothing but love and a grateful heart for her being there during those three days. Without her, we may not have gotten through it all.

***

From the moment Amanda walked into my mom's room, she brought a level of kindness and compassion that could calm even the most anxious patient. Trust me, I tested that thoroughly.

She provided comfort exactly when I needed it, answered every one of my questions (including the ones I asked three times), and managed to make me feel genuinely cared for, all while keeping a great sense of humor. She even remembered my family from our past ICU experience several months ago!

Her presence turned a stressful experience into one filled with reassurance, understanding, and the kind of laughter that makes the most precarious times a little less scary.

She is truly a remarkable nurse, and I’m incredibly grateful for the extraordinary care she gave my mom and my family.