Melanie
Dos Santos
May 2026
Melanie
Dos Santos
,
BSN, RN
Nebraska Medicine
Omaha
,
NE
United States
His destination was the same, but she changed the journey. In the end, when his path was the most difficult, she stepped in and let him be the type of man he was his whole life.
I have been trying to write this for a while but have not had the courage to face it yet.
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of my dad passing from cancer, and I owe this letter to him. He wanted to write a nomination before he passed but never had the opportunity. So, he and I would like to recognize Melanie Dos Santos with a much overdue and deserved DAISY Award.
My siblings and I had friends over nearly every night for dinner and games. My parents didn’t just tolerate it; they loved it. My dad was a teacher and knew the power of a safe and loving place. He delighted in playing games and hanging out with us kids. Some people are just made to do something in life, and my dad was put on this earth to make others feel cared for and safe.
As my dad’s cancer progressed, he spent more and more time in the hospital. Those increasingly long stays as his cancer progressed were the hardest times in his and our lives. He often mentioned the amazing nurses and staff during his stays, specifically mentioning Melanie.
As a nurse, I scrutinized the care my dad received in the way only an overprotective and scared medical family member could. I was amazed at the level of professionalism, care, and expertise of the staff on 7 Werner, especially Melanie. She wasn’t just an amazing nurse but became a friend over those long months.
I’d come into my dad’s room, and he would be in the middle of a fun story I’d heard dozens of times, so I’d known Melanie had been listening to him for a while. I laughed and told my dad to release his captive audience. She would wave away my concerns and keep chatting with him. She never made him feel like a burden, or just another patient, but made him feel like himself. A man who spent his life being a friend to everyone.
One instance still stands out: the day before we were to get the latest test results, which were the outcomes of our last “Hail Mary” treatment option.
My family was in one of the family visitor rooms so we could play cards, joke, and hang out, creating a bit of comfort and normalcy amongst the fear and thorns. My dad was due for some meds and a quick check-up, and in strolled Melanie. She rolled in a computer with the meds. She brought the care to him because she knew how much effort it took for him to travel back and forth, and it would have likely put an end to our family time.
She knew the game, so my dad invited her in for a quick hand of cards. She played and joked around with us as if she were one of our friends who had visited my parents’ house for years. We didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last opportunity he had to invite a friend to come join us for games.
Over the next week, his symptoms rapidly progressed, and we lost my dad to cancer.
We have struggled with the loss of this amazing father, husband, and friend. For a time after, I thought I would have to leave nursing behind. It hurt too much to face so many similar situations. One of the main things that kept me going and helped me accept and move on was thinking of how Melanie cared for my dad.
His destination was the same, but she changed the journey. In the end, when his path was the most difficult, she stepped in and let him be the type of man he was his whole life.
For that, I will always be grateful and consider Melanie the most compassionate, deserving person I can think of for the DAISY Award. Her kindness and care didn’t end there. We saw Melanie and two other nurses at my dad’s funeral. That moment, as I dealt with so much anger and grief, I was reminded why I went into nursing and the incredible difference one extraordinary nurse can make.
I have never known a nurse more deserving.
Just as I said, my dad was put on this earth to make others feel cared for and safe; I believe Melanie was put on this earth to be a nurse.
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of my dad passing from cancer, and I owe this letter to him. He wanted to write a nomination before he passed but never had the opportunity. So, he and I would like to recognize Melanie Dos Santos with a much overdue and deserved DAISY Award.
My siblings and I had friends over nearly every night for dinner and games. My parents didn’t just tolerate it; they loved it. My dad was a teacher and knew the power of a safe and loving place. He delighted in playing games and hanging out with us kids. Some people are just made to do something in life, and my dad was put on this earth to make others feel cared for and safe.
As my dad’s cancer progressed, he spent more and more time in the hospital. Those increasingly long stays as his cancer progressed were the hardest times in his and our lives. He often mentioned the amazing nurses and staff during his stays, specifically mentioning Melanie.
As a nurse, I scrutinized the care my dad received in the way only an overprotective and scared medical family member could. I was amazed at the level of professionalism, care, and expertise of the staff on 7 Werner, especially Melanie. She wasn’t just an amazing nurse but became a friend over those long months.
I’d come into my dad’s room, and he would be in the middle of a fun story I’d heard dozens of times, so I’d known Melanie had been listening to him for a while. I laughed and told my dad to release his captive audience. She would wave away my concerns and keep chatting with him. She never made him feel like a burden, or just another patient, but made him feel like himself. A man who spent his life being a friend to everyone.
One instance still stands out: the day before we were to get the latest test results, which were the outcomes of our last “Hail Mary” treatment option.
My family was in one of the family visitor rooms so we could play cards, joke, and hang out, creating a bit of comfort and normalcy amongst the fear and thorns. My dad was due for some meds and a quick check-up, and in strolled Melanie. She rolled in a computer with the meds. She brought the care to him because she knew how much effort it took for him to travel back and forth, and it would have likely put an end to our family time.
She knew the game, so my dad invited her in for a quick hand of cards. She played and joked around with us as if she were one of our friends who had visited my parents’ house for years. We didn’t know it at the time, but that was the last opportunity he had to invite a friend to come join us for games.
Over the next week, his symptoms rapidly progressed, and we lost my dad to cancer.
We have struggled with the loss of this amazing father, husband, and friend. For a time after, I thought I would have to leave nursing behind. It hurt too much to face so many similar situations. One of the main things that kept me going and helped me accept and move on was thinking of how Melanie cared for my dad.
His destination was the same, but she changed the journey. In the end, when his path was the most difficult, she stepped in and let him be the type of man he was his whole life.
For that, I will always be grateful and consider Melanie the most compassionate, deserving person I can think of for the DAISY Award. Her kindness and care didn’t end there. We saw Melanie and two other nurses at my dad’s funeral. That moment, as I dealt with so much anger and grief, I was reminded why I went into nursing and the incredible difference one extraordinary nurse can make.
I have never known a nurse more deserving.
Just as I said, my dad was put on this earth to make others feel cared for and safe; I believe Melanie was put on this earth to be a nurse.