I developed a rapidly growing mass in my neck; after exploring local physicians and realizing they were not suited or equipped to handle my medical complexity, I found Dr. A at the University of Miami. What a blessing it was to find Dr. A and UM. I felt confident in their medical knowledge, ability to adequately treat and handle my condition. I met Kayla at my first appointment and we instantly had a connection; she was so professional and very comforting. I was understandably nervous and she made me feel at ease. She was like a long lost friend; that is how instantly we connected; she made me feel apart of her family.

I was scheduled for a fine needle biopsy. At this appointment I was very tired, stressed, and not feeling well. Nothing medical is without complications and I am no exception. I developed fevers and discomfort from the rapid growth and ultimately needed to be placed on antibiotics. Kayla immediately picked up on how uncomfortable and sick I was. We proceeded with the fine needle biopsy; the procedure went smooth without much difficulty. However, directly after the procedure I declined rapidly. I developed rigors, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, and an increasing fever. I ultimately was sent to the UM ER. While all of this was happening, Kayla was there the entire time, she was the constant voice I heard and held on to (psst don't tell me husband) amidst the chaos. She was my angel of comfort. I knew with her there I was going to be okay. She was not only comforting and reassuring me but she was also monitoring my vital signs.

Having said all of this, I am a nurse myself and I hope I am able to provide the great care to my patients as Kayla provided to me. She has given me a new prospective in providing great care to my patients. I understand how meaningful this DAISY Award is and while I have been previous nominated, I was never awarded this prominent title. Through out all of my wonderful care and experience at UM Sylvester, UM ER, UM head & Neck Inpatient unit, and UM Lenar, no one compared to the compassion, professionalism, expertise, and care I received from Kayla. I hope this gives you a glimpse into the amazing person and nurse she is. UM is incredibly lucky to have her on their team caring for patients. Due to COVID and other life responsibilities, this letter has not been in the timely manner as I would have like, but two years later and I still never forgot how impactful Kayla was in my care.