Ariel Justice
April 2026
Ariel
Justice
,
RN
Emergency Department
TriHealth Bethesda North Hospital
Cincinnati
,
OH
United States
Her nursing skills were at an expert level. While these things are of utmost importance, so was the listening, understanding, and support she showed Mom and all of her family.
In the early morning hours, my mom was transferred from Clinton Memorial Hospital in Wilmington to Bethesda North. Her diagnosis, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion, was grim, especially at her age. Her labs were also trending towards sepsis, and she was in atrial fibrillation with RVR. Even though I am a nurse, my knowledge of this condition was minimal.
Mom called me at 11:20 pm to tell me she was calling 911 due to extreme pain in her abdomen. I’d never seen her in such terrible condition. Thankfully, her pain was brought to a tolerable state prior to her transfer. Upon arrival, Ariel was at Mom’s bedside and was very attentive to her while listening to multiple orders being thrown her way.
At this point, there were 12 family members who had arrived and were waiting in the ED waiting room. Along with Mom, we were all overwhelmed, anxious, scared, emotional, and worried. Mom was 92 1/2 years old; however, she was impressive and amazing. Ariel saw Mom in her very worst condition, yet I believe she knew she was such a special lady.
As they should have, the team was treating her condition as an emergent situation. Within moments, there were vascular and general surgery teams present. They had to rescan Mom shortly after her arrival, and unfortunately, the diagnosis was confirmed. Due to gastric contents backing up into her esophagus and looming surgery, an NG tube and a Foley catheter had to be placed. Ariel worked quickly and efficiently. She made my poor little mom as comfortable as she could.
Soon, the team of surgeons was in the room to explain and get consent for Mom’s surgery. Learning that Mom, if she survived the surgery, would probably never be independent again, would have a very large abdominal incision left open for at least two to three days, requiring a second surgery to explore for further deadened bowel, end up with an ostomy, be placed on a ventilator in the ICU for four days at a minimum, require extensive rehab…Wow!
At this point, my mom looked at me and said, “You are going to have to decide.” This was heavy and hard. Through my tears, I told her she didn’t have to do it. She said, “I think I need a day or two to think about it.” Replying, I said, “Mom, we have about three minutes.”
Struggling, I looked up and here came the other 11 family members. Ariel had gone out to the waiting room and gathered them to come back to the room. She stood in there with the doctors and us as we all went around the room and told Mom she did not have to attempt to have this torturous surgery. Believe me, she would have gone through with it had we asked her to. That is the kind of person she was. She always wanted to do what was best for her family, even if it wasn’t the best for her.
After each of us told Mom it was okay not to go through the surgery, she said, “I want to go home.”
Ariel had to deal with 12 family members who were sad, exhausted, and crying… quite simply, we were all hot messes. She handled Mom and all of us with such grace, dignity, and support. She was genuine, caring, compassionate, understanding, and kind. We were a lot!
After the decision was made to try to get her home, the staff moved quickly to get orders placed for hospice and to make sure Mom was comfortable. Thankfully, everything fell into place, and within a couple of hours, we had transport at the hospital to take Mom back to her home. She was able to enjoy time with her family all afternoon. She fell asleep around 5 pm and a couple of hours later passed peacefully in her sleep.
Ariel not only took care of my mom, but she also took care of the entire family. She allowed us to be with her, often working around us. She told me she normally worked day shift hours, but picked up a night shift. I feel she was supposed to get out of work at 9 am that day. At around 10:45 am, she was leaving, and she came to the waiting room to tell the family goodbye.
I feel Ariel more than deserves this DAISY Award. She exemplifies what a nurse should be. Her knowledge of the given diagnosis and situation was high, yet she was able to convey information in a way we could all understand. Her nursing skills were at an expert level. While these things are of utmost importance, so was the listening, understanding, and support she showed Mom and all of her family.
Thank you, Ariel, for taking care of all of us that day. The care you provided was exemplary!
Mom called me at 11:20 pm to tell me she was calling 911 due to extreme pain in her abdomen. I’d never seen her in such terrible condition. Thankfully, her pain was brought to a tolerable state prior to her transfer. Upon arrival, Ariel was at Mom’s bedside and was very attentive to her while listening to multiple orders being thrown her way.
At this point, there were 12 family members who had arrived and were waiting in the ED waiting room. Along with Mom, we were all overwhelmed, anxious, scared, emotional, and worried. Mom was 92 1/2 years old; however, she was impressive and amazing. Ariel saw Mom in her very worst condition, yet I believe she knew she was such a special lady.
As they should have, the team was treating her condition as an emergent situation. Within moments, there were vascular and general surgery teams present. They had to rescan Mom shortly after her arrival, and unfortunately, the diagnosis was confirmed. Due to gastric contents backing up into her esophagus and looming surgery, an NG tube and a Foley catheter had to be placed. Ariel worked quickly and efficiently. She made my poor little mom as comfortable as she could.
Soon, the team of surgeons was in the room to explain and get consent for Mom’s surgery. Learning that Mom, if she survived the surgery, would probably never be independent again, would have a very large abdominal incision left open for at least two to three days, requiring a second surgery to explore for further deadened bowel, end up with an ostomy, be placed on a ventilator in the ICU for four days at a minimum, require extensive rehab…Wow!
At this point, my mom looked at me and said, “You are going to have to decide.” This was heavy and hard. Through my tears, I told her she didn’t have to do it. She said, “I think I need a day or two to think about it.” Replying, I said, “Mom, we have about three minutes.”
Struggling, I looked up and here came the other 11 family members. Ariel had gone out to the waiting room and gathered them to come back to the room. She stood in there with the doctors and us as we all went around the room and told Mom she did not have to attempt to have this torturous surgery. Believe me, she would have gone through with it had we asked her to. That is the kind of person she was. She always wanted to do what was best for her family, even if it wasn’t the best for her.
After each of us told Mom it was okay not to go through the surgery, she said, “I want to go home.”
Ariel had to deal with 12 family members who were sad, exhausted, and crying… quite simply, we were all hot messes. She handled Mom and all of us with such grace, dignity, and support. She was genuine, caring, compassionate, understanding, and kind. We were a lot!
After the decision was made to try to get her home, the staff moved quickly to get orders placed for hospice and to make sure Mom was comfortable. Thankfully, everything fell into place, and within a couple of hours, we had transport at the hospital to take Mom back to her home. She was able to enjoy time with her family all afternoon. She fell asleep around 5 pm and a couple of hours later passed peacefully in her sleep.
Ariel not only took care of my mom, but she also took care of the entire family. She allowed us to be with her, often working around us. She told me she normally worked day shift hours, but picked up a night shift. I feel she was supposed to get out of work at 9 am that day. At around 10:45 am, she was leaving, and she came to the waiting room to tell the family goodbye.
I feel Ariel more than deserves this DAISY Award. She exemplifies what a nurse should be. Her knowledge of the given diagnosis and situation was high, yet she was able to convey information in a way we could all understand. Her nursing skills were at an expert level. While these things are of utmost importance, so was the listening, understanding, and support she showed Mom and all of her family.
Thank you, Ariel, for taking care of all of us that day. The care you provided was exemplary!