My 24-year-old son with Downs Syndrome was admitted to floor 6000 for pneumonia. I stayed with him around the clock in part because he has a history of turning on a dime and getting sicker in the past. After a week of IV antibiotics, he took a turn downward in the afternoon.

We are grateful to Nurse Danielle, who took note of his distress and became an advocate to get further care. Danielle made several contacts that resulted in an emergent CT scan and later that evening the surgical insertion of two chest tubes that were needed to relieve his severe pain and hard breathing. Danielle gave him care in a manner that was comforting and reassuring to my son and me at a time when were anxious and frustrated that things were getting worse and not better. I especially appreciated that she did not dismiss a mother’s input or experience. There were several nurses during our long stay that went above and beyond with kindness and good care, but Danielle is one who stands out for being his advocate for the care he desperately needed to get on the road to recovery. Thank you, Danielle!