June 2026 Honoree
Danielle Derby, RN
I would like to commend Dani Derby for the extraordinary care, compassion, advocacy, and support she provided to my family during our NICU journey.
After developing severe preeclampsia, I underwent an emergency C-section and delivered my daughter at just 32½ weeks. Dani was my baby’s admitting NICU Nurse. Immediately after delivery, my husband went with our daughter to the NICU while I remained in recovery. It was an incredibly overwhelming and emotional time for both of us. Dani helped my husband feel less alone and gave him a sense of control during a situation that felt completely out of our hands. Her calm presence, guidance, and reassurance made an enormous difference in those first frightening hours.
When I was finally able to come to the NICU and meet my daughter, Dani was welcoming, informative, kind, and compassionate. As a nurse myself, I understand the complexity of caring for critically ill patients, and Dani immediately gave me confidence that my baby was receiving exceptional care. She took the time to explain what was happening, answer questions, and ensure that we understood our daughter’s condition and plan of care.
Over the following weeks, Dani cared for my daughter several times. Every time I arrived at the NICU and saw Dani’s name on the whiteboard, I felt a sense of relief. I knew my baby was being watched over by someone who genuinely cared about her and our family. She consistently kept us informed, involved, and empowered throughout our NICU experience.
One of the things I appreciated most was how Dani helped us experience many of the milestones and “firsts” that I felt I had missed because of my emergency delivery and recovery. She made a conscious effort to involve us in our daughter’s care and helped us create meaningful memories during a time that could have otherwise felt consumed by fear and uncertainty.
What truly set Dani apart was that her support extended far beyond her assigned responsibilities. Even when she wasn’t our nurse, she would stop by to check on us, answer questions, and offer encouragement. Later, when the NICU experienced a surge in patients and our daughter was frequently assigned float nurses, Dani still made a point to seek us out. She would check in, provide education, answer questions that others couldn’t, and help us better understand what to expect. She always made us feel informed, prepared, and involved in our daughter’s care.
Dani also consistently advocated for both my baby and me, even when she was not assigned to our care. She looked out for our best interests, ensured our concerns were heard, and helped us navigate an incredibly stressful and emotional experience. During a time when it was easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless, Dani helped us feel supported and empowered. Knowing that she was advocating for us, even when she wasn’t our nurse, demonstrated how deeply she cared about the families she served.
Throughout our NICU journey, Dani was more than just an outstanding nurse—she was an advocate, educator, and source of comfort for our family. By the end of our stay, it felt like Dani had become a friend, not just our baby’s nurse. Her compassion, dedication, and commitment to patient- and family-centered care embody everything the DAISY Award represents. The impact she had on our family during one of the most difficult times in our lives will never be forgotten, and we will always be grateful for the difference she made in our daughter’s care and in our lives.
After developing severe preeclampsia, I underwent an emergency C-section and delivered my daughter at just 32½ weeks. Dani was my baby’s admitting NICU Nurse. Immediately after delivery, my husband went with our daughter to the NICU while I remained in recovery. It was an incredibly overwhelming and emotional time for both of us. Dani helped my husband feel less alone and gave him a sense of control during a situation that felt completely out of our hands. Her calm presence, guidance, and reassurance made an enormous difference in those first frightening hours.
When I was finally able to come to the NICU and meet my daughter, Dani was welcoming, informative, kind, and compassionate. As a nurse myself, I understand the complexity of caring for critically ill patients, and Dani immediately gave me confidence that my baby was receiving exceptional care. She took the time to explain what was happening, answer questions, and ensure that we understood our daughter’s condition and plan of care.
Over the following weeks, Dani cared for my daughter several times. Every time I arrived at the NICU and saw Dani’s name on the whiteboard, I felt a sense of relief. I knew my baby was being watched over by someone who genuinely cared about her and our family. She consistently kept us informed, involved, and empowered throughout our NICU experience.
One of the things I appreciated most was how Dani helped us experience many of the milestones and “firsts” that I felt I had missed because of my emergency delivery and recovery. She made a conscious effort to involve us in our daughter’s care and helped us create meaningful memories during a time that could have otherwise felt consumed by fear and uncertainty.
What truly set Dani apart was that her support extended far beyond her assigned responsibilities. Even when she wasn’t our nurse, she would stop by to check on us, answer questions, and offer encouragement. Later, when the NICU experienced a surge in patients and our daughter was frequently assigned float nurses, Dani still made a point to seek us out. She would check in, provide education, answer questions that others couldn’t, and help us better understand what to expect. She always made us feel informed, prepared, and involved in our daughter’s care.
Dani also consistently advocated for both my baby and me, even when she was not assigned to our care. She looked out for our best interests, ensured our concerns were heard, and helped us navigate an incredibly stressful and emotional experience. During a time when it was easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless, Dani helped us feel supported and empowered. Knowing that she was advocating for us, even when she wasn’t our nurse, demonstrated how deeply she cared about the families she served.
Throughout our NICU journey, Dani was more than just an outstanding nurse—she was an advocate, educator, and source of comfort for our family. By the end of our stay, it felt like Dani had become a friend, not just our baby’s nurse. Her compassion, dedication, and commitment to patient- and family-centered care embody everything the DAISY Award represents. The impact she had on our family during one of the most difficult times in our lives will never be forgotten, and we will always be grateful for the difference she made in our daughter’s care and in our lives.
Thank you, Danielle, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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