Cody Furlough, RN

When I first met Cody, he introduced himself simply: "Hi, I’m Cody." He then looked at my mother and said he wasn’t going to treat her as if there was absolutely no hope left. That sentence changed everything for me. In a moment that was incredibly frightening and heartbreaking for our family, hearing those words brought me an unexpected sense of comfort. My mother’s situation was very serious, and we were facing the possibility of losing her. At that point, our family knew we were likely facing the final chapter of my mother’s life, and every moment with her felt incredibly precious. But Cody made it clear that she would still be treated with dignity, effort, and compassion. He didn’t treat her like a lost cause; he treated her like a person who still mattered. I will never forget those words, even though they were so simple. I will also never forget the genuine human connection I felt in that moment.

No matter how many years pass, I know I will never forget his face or the compassion he showed us during one of the hardest moments of our lives. Cody demonstrated a level of empathy that went far beyond routine care. He always spoke with honesty about my mother’s condition when it mattered most, but he did so with compassion, never giving false hope, yet never leaving us without comfort. At one point, we shared a brief moment of connection over the understanding of what it means to lose someone you love, and that quiet understanding made his kindness feel even more genuine and meaningful.

Throughout the time he cared for my mother, Cody balanced professionalism with warmth in a way that meant so much to us. He was kind, witty, and even shared lighthearted jokes with me, my father, and my childhood best friend. In our family, my mom, my father, and I often cope with serious or dark situations through laughter, and Cody understood that instinct. My father, who is elderly and often leans on humor to handle difficult moments, deeply appreciated Cody’s ability to meet him where he was. Cody was relatable, compassionate, and professional all at once, allowing us to feel supported whether we were laughing, crying, or doing both. What stands out the most is that Cody never lost his compassion or his respect for my mother.

Even during an incredibly difficult time, he treated her with dignity and care, and he supported our family in a way we will never forget. In the final moments when we had to walk away from my mother, the hardest moment of all, Cody was still there. After saying the most painful words I’ve ever had to say- later, not goodbye, because my mother never liked the word goodbye- I turned to leave her body behind. I was heartbroken, in shock, and completely overwhelmed. Cody welcomed my tearful hug in that moment without hesitation. That simple act of compassion meant more than I can ever put into words. The only comfort I had in walking away from my mother was knowing someone as genuinely compassionate as Cody was still there with her.

In one of the most devastating moments of my life, he reminded me that my mother was not alone and that her dignity and humanity still mattered. Nurses like Cody are the reason the DAISY Award exists. His compassion, humanity, and dedication to treating patients as people, not just medical cases, left a lasting impact on our family that we will carry with us forever. My mother deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion in her final moments, and Cody ensured that she was. I will always be grateful that when my mother needed compassion the most, Cody was the nurse standing beside her. In the worst moment of my life, Cody didn’t just care for my mother; he cared for our humanity. Thank you, Nurse Cody, for being such a shining ray of light and transforming our family's hardest moment into one of everlasting compassion.