May 2026 Honoree
Malina Isaak, BSN, RN
I am honored to submit this letter describing my family's experience with the exceptional care our mother received from Malina. Through one interaction after another, Malina consistently demonstrated the compassion, skill, and dedication that embody the spirit of the DAISY Award.
My mother, the patient, is no stranger to advanced critical medical care. As a cancer survivor, our family has endured many close calls, fearful moments, and intense struggles throughout her journey. However, the battle we are facing now has surpassed them all.
What began as a simple cold escalated rapidly into hospitalization at a regional facility, followed by air transport, multiple transfers, and numerous procedures, until we ultimately found ourselves at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with our mother on ECMO.
Over the past three weeks, we have interacted with and observed dozens of medical professionals involved in our mother's care. While we are grateful for every member of her healthcare team, no individual has impressed my family and me as profoundly as Malina.
From our very first day on ECMO, Malina greeted us with warmth, kindness, and a positive attitude that was both uplifting and contagious. As the children of a critically ill mother, we were facing decisions no one is ever truly prepared to make. By the end of that first day, Malina shared that she had adjusted her schedule so that she could continue caring for our mother over the next four days. That simple act provided a sense of stability and continuity during one of the most frightening times of our lives.
Throughout those days, Malina answered what felt like a countless number of questions. No matter how many we asked, she responded with patience, kindness, and genuine concern. She never once appeared frustrated or irritated. At the same time, she managed her clinical responsibilities with an impressive level of professionalism and expertise.
When her patient care tasks were complete, she consistently checked on us as well. She offered refills of ice water, brought snacks, asked whether we needed anything, and encouraged us to ask more questions if anything was unclear. While these may seem like small gestures, they meant the world to us during a time when we felt overwhelmed and powerless.
Some of the most difficult moments for any ICU family occur during physician rounds. In those first few days, we faced setback after setback: declining ventilator compliance, brain bleeds, blood clots, and an absence of meaningful neurological response. Hope often felt impossible to maintain as we clung to every word spoken and unspoken by the medical team.
After rounds, Malina repeatedly took the time to sit down with us and explain the plan of care in terms we could understand. She helped us process complex medical information while providing reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during an extraordinarily stressful time. Her ability to blend exceptional clinical knowledge with deep compassion gave us comfort when we needed it most.
After spending those critical days with our family, Malina finally took a well-deserved few days off. What happened next speaks volumes about the kind of nurse and person she is. When she returned, even though she was no longer assigned to our mother's care, she made a point to stop by and check on us. She wanted to know how we were doing and how our mother was progressing.
That gesture was not required. It was not part of an assignment. It came from a place of genuine compassion and concern.
Throughout our experience, Malina consistently demonstrated extraordinary compassion, exceptional clinical skill, and an unwavering commitment to both her patient and our family. She cared for us during some of the darkest and most uncertain days of our lives and made us feel seen, heard, supported, and valued.
My family and I are beyond grateful to have had Malina as our nurse during those first critical days in the ICU. She exemplifies everything a DAISY Award nurse should be. She is an exceptional nurse, an outstanding caregiver, and a remarkable human being. We will never forget the difference she made in our lives.
My mother, the patient, is no stranger to advanced critical medical care. As a cancer survivor, our family has endured many close calls, fearful moments, and intense struggles throughout her journey. However, the battle we are facing now has surpassed them all.
What began as a simple cold escalated rapidly into hospitalization at a regional facility, followed by air transport, multiple transfers, and numerous procedures, until we ultimately found ourselves at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with our mother on ECMO.
Over the past three weeks, we have interacted with and observed dozens of medical professionals involved in our mother's care. While we are grateful for every member of her healthcare team, no individual has impressed my family and me as profoundly as Malina.
From our very first day on ECMO, Malina greeted us with warmth, kindness, and a positive attitude that was both uplifting and contagious. As the children of a critically ill mother, we were facing decisions no one is ever truly prepared to make. By the end of that first day, Malina shared that she had adjusted her schedule so that she could continue caring for our mother over the next four days. That simple act provided a sense of stability and continuity during one of the most frightening times of our lives.
Throughout those days, Malina answered what felt like a countless number of questions. No matter how many we asked, she responded with patience, kindness, and genuine concern. She never once appeared frustrated or irritated. At the same time, she managed her clinical responsibilities with an impressive level of professionalism and expertise.
When her patient care tasks were complete, she consistently checked on us as well. She offered refills of ice water, brought snacks, asked whether we needed anything, and encouraged us to ask more questions if anything was unclear. While these may seem like small gestures, they meant the world to us during a time when we felt overwhelmed and powerless.
Some of the most difficult moments for any ICU family occur during physician rounds. In those first few days, we faced setback after setback: declining ventilator compliance, brain bleeds, blood clots, and an absence of meaningful neurological response. Hope often felt impossible to maintain as we clung to every word spoken and unspoken by the medical team.
After rounds, Malina repeatedly took the time to sit down with us and explain the plan of care in terms we could understand. She helped us process complex medical information while providing reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during an extraordinarily stressful time. Her ability to blend exceptional clinical knowledge with deep compassion gave us comfort when we needed it most.
After spending those critical days with our family, Malina finally took a well-deserved few days off. What happened next speaks volumes about the kind of nurse and person she is. When she returned, even though she was no longer assigned to our mother's care, she made a point to stop by and check on us. She wanted to know how we were doing and how our mother was progressing.
That gesture was not required. It was not part of an assignment. It came from a place of genuine compassion and concern.
Throughout our experience, Malina consistently demonstrated extraordinary compassion, exceptional clinical skill, and an unwavering commitment to both her patient and our family. She cared for us during some of the darkest and most uncertain days of our lives and made us feel seen, heard, supported, and valued.
My family and I are beyond grateful to have had Malina as our nurse during those first critical days in the ICU. She exemplifies everything a DAISY Award nurse should be. She is an exceptional nurse, an outstanding caregiver, and a remarkable human being. We will never forget the difference she made in our lives.
Thank you, Malina, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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