Our dad having a major heart attack on Christmas morning certainly wasn’t on our Christmas list this year, but unfortunately, it was our reality. Early Christmas morning, our dad went to the IU Health Tipton ER, and we learned he was having a heart attack. He was immediately transferred by ambulance to IU Health Saxony, and we were told he’d be going straight to the Cath lab and undergo an emergency procedure. My mother, siblings, and I all immediately became overcome with worry and fear about what Dad's next few hours, days, and beyond would look like. After we received the tremendous news from the doctor that surgery was a success and they were able to place a stint and two balloons to ensure proper blood flow, we all felt a sense of relief followed by curiosity about the next steps we'd need to take to get Dad back to his normal life. 

That is where Antonio stepped in and made all of us (Our Dad + all our family) feel such a sense of comfort as he assured us that our dad was going to be okay. Antonio’s compassion shined through from the moment we met him, and his expertise is unparalleled. From the minute Dad was moved to his ICU room, Antonio immediately made Dad his top priority and made sure to provide him with any and everything he needed to feel comfortable and safe. Not only would Antonio come in to check all vitals and administer all the necessary medicine, but he would answer any questions that Dad and/or the rest of us had to ensure everyone fully understood Dad's health and how we all would play a role in helping our dad recover fully. We could tell that Antonio was very knowledgeable, and we appreciated the time he took to ensure we all understood everything that had happened, was happening and the things that would need to happen in the future. 

In addition to making our dad’s health (physical, mental, emotional, etc.) his first priority, Antonio always checked in on the rest of us. After checking on & talking with our dad, he would ask all of us how he could help us and keep us comfortable while at the hospital visiting our dad - even asking what matters most in dad’s recovery. Our mom stayed at the hospital the entire time that our dad was inpatient, and she shared how she and my dad were constantly met with compassion, calmness, attentiveness, and excellence. Antonio would always engage us in conversation to distract our minds when appropriate, he would answer any questions we had and supplied our mother with all the required space/supplies as needed as she stayed in the hospital room for the duration of Dad's stay. All the aforementioned attributes/traits that Antonio displayed throughout Dad's recovery were everything we could have ever wished for and more. 

While our dad had many different plans for the last week of 2023 as he was wrapping up his term as Mayor in our hometown, Antonio’s calmness, compassion, and attention to detail made things much easier for our dad. As family, friends, and community members reached out to my brothers and me to check on Dad, we shared updates on his progress and were happy to share that we were confident he’d make a full recovery thanks to the quick action of many medical professionals and especially because our new favorite nurse Antonio was taking the absolute best care of him. Since Dad’s heart attack on Christmas morning, we have told anyone and everyone that should they find themselves in a similar situation, they should go straight to IU Health Saxony and ask to have Antonio as their nurse!

If IU Health had a hospital full of Antonios, I have no doubt that the hospital would be the top-ranked hospital in the world in regards to patient care and satisfaction. Our family has experienced many hospital visits and stays over the years, and we have never come across a nurse who exemplifies the qualities of the DAISY Award as Antonio does. 

We are so thankful that Antonio was our dad’s nurse throughout his hospital stay. I hope that should my family, friends, or anyone else need medical assistance in the future, Antonio will be there to provide the same compassionate, excellent care that he provided to my dad and our family as a whole.

Note: This is Antonio's 2nd DAISY Award!