As a member of the Rapid Response Team, I routinely experience critical illness and life changing diagnoses that have dramatic effects on patients and their loved ones. In July of 2020, I received a call from my dad who seemed scared. He had seen his primary care provider for pain after a minor fall while helping me with window trim on my home. He had an x-ray which showed multiple bony lesions concerning for malignancy and he was directly admitted to the hospital for further work-up. Unfortunately, I was away, and with COVID restrictions, visitation was limited. After he arrived at the hospital, I initiated a family-requested rapid response consult. My friend and colleague, Khristine Morin, was the one who saw my father and ensured he was receiving optimal care. My father eventually received a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. He underwent placement of a femoral rod to prevent a pathologic fracture, and he was prescribed a course of chemotherapy by the wonderful oncology providers and given his first dose by the spectacular oncology nurses.

Having Khristine there when I couldn’t be with my dad meant the world to me and my family. With my dad’s consent, Khristine always made sure that my mother and I were fully aware of how my dad was doing and what the plan was moving forward. My parents don’t work in healthcare, and Khristine routinely took the time to explain everything in a way they understood, both of them expressed how beneficial this was on separate occasions.

I always knew Khristine to be an incredibly smart, compassionate, and hard-working nurse but the way that she helped my dad really intensified these feelings. After my dad left the hospital, she would always check in with me to see how my dad was doing and was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to. Initially, it seemed my dad would have a pretty good prognosis, as multiple myeloma is a more manageable form of blood cancer, but unfortunately, his condition worsened. About seven months after his first admission and diagnosis, my dad was admitted to the hospital with an infection. Once again, Khristine was there to help my dad and family to ensure he received great care and emotional support, and after a short stay, he was discharged.

One month later, my dad still wasn’t doing well; he was losing weight quickly, and he was admitted to the hospital with failure to thrive. During this hospitalization, we learned that the multiple myeloma had infiltrated his liver, and he decided to seek comfort instead of further care. As always, Khristine was there to help, this time mostly for emotional support for my dad, my mother, and myself. Four days after my father decided to seek comfort, he passed away with my mother and me by his side. Khristine’s compassion didn’t end there; she organized a collection, and her and my other colleagues/friends gave me an incredibly generous donation that I gave to my mother to help with his extensive medical bills.

I regret not nominating Khristine for this award sooner. After receiving the DAISY Award myself, I now understand the weight it carries, and I am confident she deserves this same honor.