When our son was admitted to the NICU, Jessica was his nurse for the first three days. Jess was just the person I didn't know I needed to help my husband and me through this unexpected situation. Jess's bubbly and optimistic personality was a breath of fresh air amidst cords and beeps. She helped us understand what was going on and walked us through the options when decisions had to be made. Being with Jess for two and a half days allowed us to connect with her on both a professional and personal level. She took an interest in our lives and let us to get to know her. Having such a fast connection with our son's caregiver put us at ease when we most needed it. In the following days in the NICU, my husband and I found ourselves wishing Jess was working so that we could consult with her on decisions that had to be made. All of the doctors and nurses in the NICU at Aurora BayCare were outstanding caregivers to our son. What makes Jess stand out is her ability to connect with not only patients, but also parents on a personal level. Without this connection, I would have been much more anxious and less at ease while the baby was getting the care he needed.

My first Mother's Day as a mom was spent in the NICU. All day, nurses were wishing me a Happy Mother's Day- very surreal! But Mother's Day was a special day for me for another reason. The baby struggled with breast feeding from day one. On Mother's Day, as Jess was working with us on breast feeding, he latched on for the first time. As I started to cry, I looked up at Jess, and she also had tears in her eyes. Seeing her as emotional as I was on my son's small victory meant the world to me. If that doesn't make an outstanding caregiver, I don't know what does! Jess is most deserving of this DAISY Award!