My 20-year-old son C has been an inpatient on the 11th floor on the pediatric side for all treatment. Josh is his primary nurse and has been an absolute God-send. The hardest part of writing this nomination was picking out just one specific date that stood out when, in reality, there have been so many I’ve lost count.

From day one, upon meeting Josh, he took time to get to know us and not just C’s diagnosis, staying what I know now is well past his shift. He took this extra time with us, providing reassurance that we were at the right place for his treatment. He made us feel heard after a rough transition and transfer from the center that found and diagnosed C. He helped put our minds at ease and stop second guessing whether or not we made the right decision to be closer to home. Since that 1st day, Josh has consistently gone above and beyond for my son at every turn.

During the holidays, while C was an inpatient, he learned we make hot cocoa with warmed chocolate milk just like his mom does for him and that C loves milkshakes and smoothies. Fast forward time to when C was down and missing his little brother’s 4th birthday. Josh immediately noticed this without prompting and made him hot cocoa like he’d get at home and was just there for him. I know this may not sound like much, but this is just one instance and small gesture that has meant the world to us.

On another occasion, after a couple of harder days, C was ready to eat, and all he wanted was a milkshake; for the life of me, I couldn’t find anywhere still open that I could get one. Josh was in the room changing out the meds on C’s pole and said, "Give me a few; I think I can make you one." C and I looked at each other, then back to Josh, asking how you get a blender stashed somewhere, and joked around for a few minutes. A bit later, Josh came back into the room and blew everyone’s mind with a chocolate shake. Saying he’d see us again in 2 days but expected a rating on his 1st shake he ever made without a blender. We still don’t know how he did it or continues to do it at the most perfect of times.

Josh has taken the time to wash and save C’s favorite shorts and t-shirt while I wasn’t there after a really bad nosebleed instead of just putting them in a separate bag in his dirty clothes. He then took the time to show me how to do the same with hydrogen peroxide since nose bleeds tend to be something we have to deal with from time to time. When C spent time in the PICU, he always made time to check in on him. When C was super sick this last week, Josh came in on his day off while he was on campus for a class just to check on him. Josh has been one of C’s biggest advocates since day one, constantly going above and beyond his regular duties as his nurse. It is his presence and diligence that have given me some peace of mind on the days I have to work and can't be there. I just want to give a giant thank you to him for supporting my son during one of the hardest times we’ve ever faced. His attention to detail and caring while working doesn’t go unnoticed and has meant the absolute world to my family.