Melanie Romano
March 2026
Melanie
Romano
,
RN
Pediatric Oncology
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack
,
NJ
United States
Mel did not just perform her duties as a nurse—she became a source of strength and comfort for him.
My family and I would like to nominate Mel for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. As a mother, there is nothing more heartbreaking than watching your child suffer and feeling powerless to take their pain away. During one of the most difficult moments of my son’s journey with cancer, Mel showed a level of compassion, commitment, and dedication that I will never forget and goes beyond being a nurse, but is humane and demonstrates the power of love.
My son was in unbearable pain and emotionally overwhelmed. He cried and said he didn’t want to live anymore. In that moment, Mel did not just perform her duties as a nurse—she became a source of strength and comfort for him. She stayed by his side, listened to him, and reassured him that things would get better with time. Her presence brought him a sense of calm and hope when he needed it the most. Mel also took him to his CAT scan and told him she would stay by his side till he went back to his room. She held his hand when he was scared and told him it would be ok. He trusted her and felt comforted by her words.
At one point, when my son asked her why he had cancer, she shared a powerful quote with him that changed the way he looked at his situation. In a moment filled with fear and sadness, she helped him see things from a different perspective and reminded him of his strength. She was attentive, quick to respond, and made sure his pain and needs were addressed. But what stood out most was the genuine care she showed. She treated my son not just as a patient, but as a young person who needed compassion, encouragement, and understanding. As a mother, seeing someone care for your child with such kindness and dedication means everything. Mel made my son feel safe, supported, and understood during one of the darkest times of his life.
For the compassion she showed my son, the comfort she brought to our family, and the extraordinary care she gives every day, I truly believe Mel represents everything the DAISY Award stands for. She is deeply deserving of this recognition.
My son was in unbearable pain and emotionally overwhelmed. He cried and said he didn’t want to live anymore. In that moment, Mel did not just perform her duties as a nurse—she became a source of strength and comfort for him. She stayed by his side, listened to him, and reassured him that things would get better with time. Her presence brought him a sense of calm and hope when he needed it the most. Mel also took him to his CAT scan and told him she would stay by his side till he went back to his room. She held his hand when he was scared and told him it would be ok. He trusted her and felt comforted by her words.
At one point, when my son asked her why he had cancer, she shared a powerful quote with him that changed the way he looked at his situation. In a moment filled with fear and sadness, she helped him see things from a different perspective and reminded him of his strength. She was attentive, quick to respond, and made sure his pain and needs were addressed. But what stood out most was the genuine care she showed. She treated my son not just as a patient, but as a young person who needed compassion, encouragement, and understanding. As a mother, seeing someone care for your child with such kindness and dedication means everything. Mel made my son feel safe, supported, and understood during one of the darkest times of his life.
For the compassion she showed my son, the comfort she brought to our family, and the extraordinary care she gives every day, I truly believe Mel represents everything the DAISY Award stands for. She is deeply deserving of this recognition.