Daniella Sanchez, BSN

Daniella Sanchez was kind and welcoming as soon as I met her. The day I met her happened to be my birthday. It also happened to be approaching the one-year anniversary of when I was here in the ICU for three weeks. I was already anticipating that anniversary and how I was going to address it. Daniella was attentive and kind and listened to me. She went out of her way to do things to get everything I needed.

In the morning, after having my blood drawn, she came in with a surprise. She stated she had a little birthday gift for me and went out of her way to have a card made and signed by the nurses on the floor, and they drew pictures in it. They went and picked up a small packaged pineapple cake from a local Chinese bakery. She decorated a small cup to match the card, placed the cake in it with some chocolates and treats. Daniella wanted me to have a little something for my birthday, and at that time it was the only thing I had in the room that said happy birthday. It touched my heart, brought tears to my eyes, and I gave her a hug.

I asked her if she would be back tonight. She said no; she was going to be off and would be there Monday night. I did not expect to be here Monday night, but I was, and I was looking forward to seeing her again. She was just as welcoming and happy to see me and wanted to know how my day went the day before. She looked into my various test results and explained things to me, and there were a couple of things that seemed to be questionable, so she added notes for the doctor to look at. She went out of her way to find a small water pitcher for me because before I was only given a large cup of ice to pour into it in a smaller cup. I was not complaining about it, but she saw and came in with a small plastic pitcher, cups, and straws. She made my second stay a little more tolerable.

There were so many nurses in the ICU the year before that I truly liked, and I wish I were more cognitive and able to do this type of thing for them too. I did go out of my way to tell each of those nurses and therapists how much I appreciated them. Knowing that part of their job often goes thankless because people think they are just doing their job and that's what they have to do. I realized after my various days that is not the case. I never had any bad nurses, but I definitely had many of the ones that go above and beyond.

Daniella was one who just warmed my heart at a time when I was sad and frustrated to be back here, and I had to be on my birthday, which was supposed to be more celebratory because I survived a year. I was truly grateful to still be alive, but she was kind, very calm, and genuine. I did talk to the lead nurse on my second visit and told him about my stay with Daniella. He said he was going to tell the higher-ups. I told him I was planning to complete the DAISY Award nomination when I had the time. Even today, as she was leaving, she said she would be thinking of me and went to give me a hug, just as she did the day she left me the first time.