May 2026 Honoree
Kayla Polack, BSN, RN
I am honored to recognize Kayla for the extraordinary care, compassion, and even humor she brought to one of the most meaningful and vulnerable experiences of my life.
After years of infertility struggles and multiple losses, I approached the delivery of my rainbow baby with a mix of overwhelming excitement and deep fear.
The night before Kayla came on shift was long and exhausting—filled with worry, discomfort, and zero sleep as my baby kept us all on our toes with the monitor. When Kayla walked into the room, her warm smile and calm presence immediately felt like a breath of fresh air.
Although I had worked with Kayla professionally for years, being her patient gave me an entirely new appreciation for the kind of nurse she is.
From the very beginning, she put both my husband and me at ease. She took the time to connect with us as people—talking about life outside the hospital—while also thoughtfully educating us every step of the way.
She never made assumptions about what I should already know, despite my own background in healthcare, and she went above and beyond to include my husband. She took the time to teach him how to read the monitor strip and understand what he was looking at, which not only helped him feel more connected to the experience but also gave him something meaningful to focus on during the long hours of labor (and, as a bonus, kept him busy and out of trouble).
Kayla was a constant source of encouragement when I became frustrated with the pace of my labor. She helped us understand what to expect, communicated clearly about next steps, and made sure we always felt informed—even when she needed to step away to care for another patient.
When I was being stubborn and trying to power through contractions, she gently sat down with us and talked through my fears about getting an epidural and somehow “slowing things down.” She reassured me that whatever I wanted my birth story to look like, she would support—but also kindly reminded me that suffering through contractions wasn’t exactly earning me any gold medals.
When it came time for the epidural—of course perfectly timed with a contraction—Kayla was right there, steady and reassuring. She kept the conversation light and even silly at times, helping distract us from what was happening. Those moments of laughter meant everything and helped take the edge off an otherwise intense experience.
As labor progressed and my baby decided to add a little drama during contractions, Kayla acted quickly and skillfully without ever creating panic. She clearly explained what was happening and walked us through possible outcomes so we always felt prepared.
When the decision was made to proceed with a C-section, Kayla once again stepped in to guide us through it. She made sure my husband knew exactly what to expect—and, just as importantly, made sure he was fully prepared with his phone ready for pictures, because missing those first moments was simply not an option.
Throughout the entire process, she remained a calm and reassuring presence for both of us. She supported my husband just as much as she supported me, making sure he felt confident, included, and connected every step of the way.
Kayla even stayed beyond her shift to help welcome our daughter into the world.
One of the most meaningful moments for me was how she kept my baby nearby after delivery, making sure I could see and hear her while the surgical team completed their work. She talked to me about my daughter in those first moments, helping me feel connected to her before I was able to hold her.
Before leaving, Kayla came to check on me one final time and say goodbye—something that meant more than I can fully express and perfectly reflects the kind of nurse she is.
While my birth experience didn’t go exactly as planned, Kayla made it more than I could have hoped for. She brought not only exceptional skill and compassion, but also warmth, reassurance, and even humor when we needed it most.
Because of her, we felt supported, informed, and genuinely cared for every step of the way. I will forever be grateful for the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world. One day, I look forward to telling my daughter her birth story—and how lucky we were to have Kayla by our side.
Kayla truly embodies everything the DAISY Award represents, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.
After years of infertility struggles and multiple losses, I approached the delivery of my rainbow baby with a mix of overwhelming excitement and deep fear.
The night before Kayla came on shift was long and exhausting—filled with worry, discomfort, and zero sleep as my baby kept us all on our toes with the monitor. When Kayla walked into the room, her warm smile and calm presence immediately felt like a breath of fresh air.
Although I had worked with Kayla professionally for years, being her patient gave me an entirely new appreciation for the kind of nurse she is.
From the very beginning, she put both my husband and me at ease. She took the time to connect with us as people—talking about life outside the hospital—while also thoughtfully educating us every step of the way.
She never made assumptions about what I should already know, despite my own background in healthcare, and she went above and beyond to include my husband. She took the time to teach him how to read the monitor strip and understand what he was looking at, which not only helped him feel more connected to the experience but also gave him something meaningful to focus on during the long hours of labor (and, as a bonus, kept him busy and out of trouble).
Kayla was a constant source of encouragement when I became frustrated with the pace of my labor. She helped us understand what to expect, communicated clearly about next steps, and made sure we always felt informed—even when she needed to step away to care for another patient.
When I was being stubborn and trying to power through contractions, she gently sat down with us and talked through my fears about getting an epidural and somehow “slowing things down.” She reassured me that whatever I wanted my birth story to look like, she would support—but also kindly reminded me that suffering through contractions wasn’t exactly earning me any gold medals.
When it came time for the epidural—of course perfectly timed with a contraction—Kayla was right there, steady and reassuring. She kept the conversation light and even silly at times, helping distract us from what was happening. Those moments of laughter meant everything and helped take the edge off an otherwise intense experience.
As labor progressed and my baby decided to add a little drama during contractions, Kayla acted quickly and skillfully without ever creating panic. She clearly explained what was happening and walked us through possible outcomes so we always felt prepared.
When the decision was made to proceed with a C-section, Kayla once again stepped in to guide us through it. She made sure my husband knew exactly what to expect—and, just as importantly, made sure he was fully prepared with his phone ready for pictures, because missing those first moments was simply not an option.
Throughout the entire process, she remained a calm and reassuring presence for both of us. She supported my husband just as much as she supported me, making sure he felt confident, included, and connected every step of the way.
Kayla even stayed beyond her shift to help welcome our daughter into the world.
One of the most meaningful moments for me was how she kept my baby nearby after delivery, making sure I could see and hear her while the surgical team completed their work. She talked to me about my daughter in those first moments, helping me feel connected to her before I was able to hold her.
Before leaving, Kayla came to check on me one final time and say goodbye—something that meant more than I can fully express and perfectly reflects the kind of nurse she is.
While my birth experience didn’t go exactly as planned, Kayla made it more than I could have hoped for. She brought not only exceptional skill and compassion, but also warmth, reassurance, and even humor when we needed it most.
Because of her, we felt supported, informed, and genuinely cared for every step of the way. I will forever be grateful for the role she played in bringing my daughter into the world. One day, I look forward to telling my daughter her birth story—and how lucky we were to have Kayla by our side.
Kayla truly embodies everything the DAISY Award represents, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.
Thank you, Kayla, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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