My dad was admitted to Presbyterian Medical Center after a sudden cardiac arrest. He spent about a week in the CICU before he passed away. During that time, Amy cared for him more than any other nurse (she was his nurse for 5 or 6 days), and the impact she had on both him and our family is something we will never forget.​

From the very beginning, Amy combined clinical excellence with genuine compassion. She explained everything she was doing for my dad, always providing up-to-date information in a way that my mom and brother could truly understand. Her explanations never felt rushed, condescending, or rehearsed - it seemed to bring her peace to help us make sense of what was happening. That alone brought us comfort during the scariest time of our lives.​

Amy didn’t just take care of my dad; she cared for all of us. She helped my mom find moments of peace, even gently convincing her to step outside for fresh air when she refused to leave the room. She was available and present — staying 30 minutes to an hour after her shifts to ensure a thoughtful handoff and to answer all of our (many) questions before she left.

She even checked in on us when she wasn’t assigned to my dad, making sure we felt supported and informed. Before leaving for the weekend, she told us, “Stay strong, I will be thinking of all of you,” and we believed her. It was clear that she carried our family and my dad in her heart even when she wasn’t at the hospital.​

What stood out most was her ability to feel what we felt, on a deeper level than just “doing her job.” When we received bad news, Amy was there with tears in her eyes, helping us process it. When there was good news, she shared that moment with us, too. She connected with us personally, talking not only about our situation, but also about her own life, including her upcoming wedding. That personal connection reminded us that she was walking with us as a human being in our grief, not just a nurse behind a chart.​

On the day of my dad’s honor walk, Amy was assigned to a different unit, which worried my mom greatly. Yet again, Amy showed extraordinary courage and kindness. She came to the room prior to the ceremony, hugged my mom, expressed her sorrow to all of us, and I believe she cried with us. She then helped prepare my dad for transport, and knowing that Amy was there gave me peace. I knew he would be treated with dignity and respect in those final moments because Amy was by his side.​

The words that come to mind when I think of Amy are sympathetic, available, and caring. She is a true light in a dark place. She was a source of comfort and stability in the middle of chaos and heartbreak.​

Amy embodies the meaning of nursing. She is living out her calling, and it shows in the way she cares for my dad and our family. On behalf of my family, I want to say: thank you, Amy, for your countless hours of compassion, your willingness to walk with us in our grief, and the way you gave of yourself so selflessly. You made an unbearable time a little more bearable, and we will always be grateful.​

Amy is the kind of nurse who transforms care from clinical to truly human. She embodies everything the DAISY Award was created to honor.