Emily was by our side when we found out that our son B had leptomeningeal disease and was then terminal. She was kind, loving, and truly an amazing person. She cared for B as if he were her own and spoke to him with kindness and love. On her first day with B, she worked nonstop, ensuring his medication lines were built perfectly, that he was comfortable, and that we as a family had everything we needed. She knew our time with B was limited and she gave him and our family all of the love in the world. She truly deserves this award.

When caring for B, she constantly spoke to him, even when he couldn't communicate back. She rubbed his head, comforted him when he was uncomfortable, and spoke so gently to him. I can't even begin to describe how this made me feel. Emily was with us on Friday & Saturday and our family was so sad that we would not have her on Sunday as that was her day off. Well, Sunday morning at 7 am, Emily walked into our room and I couldn't hold back the tears. She picked up a shift, on her scheduled day off, just so she could care for our B once more before he was moved to the Oncology floor for end-of-life care. She came to work, just for our family.

B was extubated while in the care of Emily. She continuously explained the process and the certain things they look for on the monitor to ensure he was ready for it. Emily truly explained and taught us so much during our time in the PICU. She showed us his medication lines and explained what each was used for and anytime he received a medication, she would explain to us what he was getting and what it was for.

As I sit here a little over two months later, I can't tell you exactly everything I learned, but I can tell you that as a mom that was losing her child, I felt comforted in every sense in the medical care being given to him.

Emily was with us when we received the MRI results of the leptomeningeal spread. She was there at the hardest moment in my entire life. She comforted us in ways that I can't even describe. When Emily showed up on Sunday, that told me everything. Emily cared for B, for his brother J, and for the rest of our family who came to see B before he passed. Seeing her eyes fill with tears as we said goodbye to her Sunday night, was both heart-wrenching and comforting at the same time. B was loved, even by a nurse that knew him for three days.

Every single thing that Emily did, we were involved in. His medication, his baths, every single thing that Emily did, she explained and went over it with our family. I could not have asked for a better person to care for my child in his last days.