I originally came to the hospital on the advice of my primary care physician because my blood test results were concerning. What was first thought to be a gallbladder issue quickly devolved into something much more serious. I was admitted for what would end up being a week. Those seven days were difficult, but I know they would have been a whole lot worse without Jamie. I met Jamie on my third day in the hospital. Jamie came in to introduce herself at the start of her shift while the doctor was in to give the preliminary results of my liver biopsy. When the doctor said the initial results were not good, Jamie was sure to comfort me and shared with me that her mom had the same diagnosis several months prior. Jamie was very compassionate and continued to share her mom's story and journey. Later that day, Jamie shared her mom's contact information with me, as her mom wanted to be an additional support person for me. Every visit to my room those next two days wasn't just Jamie doing her job, but offering support and comfort that went above and beyond her duties. Her care transcended that of others. When I mentioned I was missing my cat, Jamie took the time to explain how I could arrange a visit, and I ended up having my son's dog come - which was a boost to my mental state.

Another way her care went above and beyond was how she treated my family. Jamie was always concerned about my family and made sure to ask how they were doing. In one instance, Jamie talked to my daughter in the hallway, asking how she was handling the news—having been in the same position herself not that long ago. I could tell that Jamie knew the diagnosis would affect my family almost as much as me.

Finally, on a day when Jamie was assigned to a different group of patients, she stopped by to say good luck at the end of her shift and wished me the best. She wasn't just acting as a nurse but as a caring human. Before leaving, she gave me a big hug and encouraged me about the road ahead. Jamie made me feel like she was my personal nurse -which obviously she wasn't. Even as I write this, my eyes well up with tears. A cancer diagnosis is not an easy thing to process, but I am thankful that Jamie was there to help me navigate the first few days of this journey.

Note: This is Jamie's 2nd DAISY Award!