Kelsey is the living embodiment of a DAISY. She was bright, cheerful, and full of life, compassion, beauty, and patience. My mom received the gift of life via a living organ donor. My mom’s medical history is very complex, and it has been a long, hard battle to get her to a safe transplant. Because of her needs, she required a stay in the ICU post-surgery. Kelsey went above and beyond to advocate for my mother when needed. She was incredibly knowledgeable and always found an answer to any question. My mom was also not quite herself as she had so many medications in her system- and Kelsey was so patient with her. It didn’t matter how many times my mom, who was nervous and scared at times, asked the same question- Kelsey always answered with so much kindness. Kelsey worked hard to understand personal things about my mom and even listened to my mom ramble on about stories that made no sense. Kelsey helped make my mom comfortable by bringing in another nurse to rearrange her in bed, rearranging an uncomfortable catheter, using special devices to set it right, flushing it to make sure it was working properly, and giving my mom so much time and attention while she was in pain.

I work in healthcare, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with extraordinary people. However, Kelsey stands in a league of her own. I could write paragraphs of each thing she did with incredible detail and compassion, but instead, I will sum it up by saying that in the midst of what has been filled with ups and downs, Kelsey will stay with our family as someone we will refer to when we tell others about the incredible care my mom received at Duke. Thank you, Kelsey, for helping us make an ICU stay one of a beautiful memory we will treasure. You truly are one of a kind.