Mel (Melissa) Michel
February 2025
Mel (Melissa)
Michel
,
RN
James Float Pool
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Columbus
,
OH
United States
As her nurse, she was not only supportive of her medical needs but also her emotional well-being. Mel brought sunshine into the room when she stepped through the door, and she showed genuine interest in her life outside of her cancer diagnosis.
Our family would like to nominate Mel Michel for the DAISY Award because of the tremendous impact she had when our daughter began her cancer treatment at The James. When our daughter was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia we were completely blindsided. Within 24 hours, she was transferred from Toledo to The James to begin induction chemotherapy. During that first month at The James, we met many nurses and doctors who helped us adjust to her treatment and her diagnosis. But one nurse stood out above all the rest. Mel was a float nurse who was assigned to our floor shortly after our daughter was admitted. As her nurse, she was not only supportive of her medical needs but also her emotional well-being. Mel brought sunshine into the room when she stepped through the door, and she showed genuine interest in her life outside of her cancer diagnosis. When our daughter told Mel that she is interested in glassblowing, Mel brought her a small glass frog as a gift. When she was feeling overwhelmed or scared, Mel was the nurse she wanted to see.
And as the parents, Mel was there to support us as well. I remember a day when I sat on the floor outside of our daughter's room with tears running down my face because our insurance had denied one of her chemotherapy drugs. Several nurses offered tissues, water, hugs, and words of empathy. But when Mel saw me, she sat down on the floor beside me and listened. She knew she could not solve my problems, but she genuinely listened to them and was literally a shoulder for me to cry on. Even when Mel was not assigned to the floor, she often found a way to stop in either before work, after work, or during a break.
Eventually, our daughter was transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital, where she had six more months of chemotherapy before officially reaching remission. In December of 2024, she "rang the bell" in the lobby of Nationwide Children's Hospital. And guess who was there - Mel. To say that Mel was an exceptional nurse is an understatement. Because she was more than that. She was also a comfort and a ray of sunshine on our families’ darkest days
And as the parents, Mel was there to support us as well. I remember a day when I sat on the floor outside of our daughter's room with tears running down my face because our insurance had denied one of her chemotherapy drugs. Several nurses offered tissues, water, hugs, and words of empathy. But when Mel saw me, she sat down on the floor beside me and listened. She knew she could not solve my problems, but she genuinely listened to them and was literally a shoulder for me to cry on. Even when Mel was not assigned to the floor, she often found a way to stop in either before work, after work, or during a break.
Eventually, our daughter was transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital, where she had six more months of chemotherapy before officially reaching remission. In December of 2024, she "rang the bell" in the lobby of Nationwide Children's Hospital. And guess who was there - Mel. To say that Mel was an exceptional nurse is an understatement. Because she was more than that. She was also a comfort and a ray of sunshine on our families’ darkest days