When my 11-year-old son came into the ED for a sore throat, he was terrified. I could see the fear written all over his face. Then Dani walked in with the brightest smile and such a warm presence. She introduced herself and even asked all of our names, which instantly made us feel seen and cared for. Instead of jumping right into medical questions, Dani pulled up a chair and sat down next to my son, just to have a normal conversation – just talking to him like a kid, not a patient. I could actually see his shoulders drop and his breathing slow. The calmness in Dani’s voice and the way she took time to connect started melting away his anxiety right in front of me. By the end of our visit, my son – who usually shuts down and dreads these situations – was actually laughing and cracking jokes with Dani. It was such a gift to see him go from scared and tense to relaxed and smiling. Dani turned what could have been a really hard experience into one filled with comfort, kindness, and trust. I am beyond grateful.