My 92-year-old father had a unique hospice experience, and the most incredible nurse. He was in hospice 3 different times over a 2-year period. His condition was rather complex as he suffered from severe arthritis, a malfunctioning urostomy, and, most seriously, stage 4 pressure wounds on both feet. We were told that he had osteomyelitis and was septic, and 3 different physicians told us the wounds would never close, and a 4th physician said that there was <1% chance. We felt directionless and hopeless in managing his pain and needs. When Liz came on board for his care, everything slowly changed. Liz was always upbeat, never rushed, and my father always looked forward to her visits. He lived in a nursing home, and Liz collaborated heavily with the staff there to help stop having those pesky overnight urostomy leaks. She worked with the staff to make sure his pain was managed. But where she really made a difference was with his foot wound care. She became very proactive in cleaning and wrapping his feet and communicating with the wound nurse. She gave me confidence as a caregiver and educated me a lot on his foot wound care. She also encouraged me to continue being very involved in my father's care, which was so encouraging, as others had told me to back off once he was in hospice.

My daughter was to be married, and we thought it was a slim chance that my father would be able to attend. Miraculously, he had stabilized in the weeks before her wedding. The only thing standing between him and the wedding was his painful foot wounds, which made it difficult to wear socks or shoes. With Liz's diligence and thoughtful care, she got his feet to where he could put on socks and shoes and tolerate sitting in a wheelchair through the wedding and reception. This was so meaningful to my family, and there is no doubt in my mind that without Liz's advocacy and positivity that he would have never attended the wedding. Liz formed a personal, but still professional, relationship with my father. Liz gained the trust of my father and my entire family, and we were all reassured knowing he was in her care. We know our story of 3 hospice episodes is atypical. Truthfully, had it not been for Liz, he would have only been in hospice once. We are deeply grateful for Liz; she was the perfect hospice nurse for my father and our family, navigating the roller coaster that is end-of-life care. We think she is very deserving of being recognized for outstanding care with a DAISY Award.