When we look back on my daughter’s hospitalization in February, Ellona is not only a significant part of that memory but also a very fond part of that memory. When our daughter was born with a very rare genetic disorder in March 2022, our lives were turned upside down. Our daughter’s future was unknown, scary, and rare. As an oncology nurse, I already knew this, but now, as a mother, I’m learning that usually, when the word “rare” is involved, it’s often followed by a lot of “unknowns” and “barriers”. Ellona, even though only having her as our nurse for 2 nights, made our situation feel less devastating, scary, and daunting. Something that we all needed.

First, Ellona was continually calm, poised, and collected, while also being hard-working and efficient. She clustered care, which we feel is an important part of night-shift duties and maintaining some sense of normalcy while being in the hospital. Next, Ellona educated us on her plan of care and what to expect before a procedure that needed completed. She answered all of our questions and reassured us. She was competent but also double-checked herself, which was reassuring to us. Additionally, she never once made us feel rushed or less important than her next task. I am a Registered Nurse. I’m experienced in how busy inpatient units can be, and I have no doubt that Ellona had multiple tasks on her plate at any given time. But she was patient; she listened to us, and she HEARD us.

All of these things are notable attributes and deserve recognition, but the quality that I feel needs the most attention is her compassion and empathy. Ellona demonstrated compassion to not only our daughter but also to my husband and myself. That compassion and feeling of love and support from an otherwise total stranger is a remarkable, palpable thing. That’s the sort of thing that stays in your heart for a lifetime. Having that kind of ability is the kind of thing that sets Ellona above the rest and makes her beyond deserving of a DAISY Award. It’s the kind of ability that makes memories of a hospital admission less traumatic and more healing. It’s the sort of thing that makes an “unknown” future less intimidating and more manageable. 

Ellona didn’t know that I was a Registered Nurse until she was providing us with our discharge paperwork. This is how I know that Ellona’s practices were not just for show but instead were a true display of her love, dedication, and passion for her work. As a fellow RN, she makes me proud of our title. She makes me want to strive to be the best in my practices in hopes that I can make other families feel like she made us feel. As a mother, I’m eternally grateful for all of her hard work, attention, and care. Words will never feel like enough when discussing the life of a loved one, but I still want to give my sincerest THANK YOU to Ellona. Thank you for all that you do day in and day out. You make a difference. You made a difference in our lives and we are forever grateful for you.