The first day I met Melissa Leone I was in the room with my daughter and Melissa burst through the door with an excited energy that was immediately infectious. From the moment Melissa interacted with my daughter I could feel the positive energy that became Melissa's calling card. My daughter was born at 24 weeks and 6 days weighing only 1 pound 3 ounces. She had several complications after birth including brain bleeds, blood clots in her heart valve, and severely underdeveloped lungs. Melissa brought joy and light during some of those tough times.

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Melissa was one of the primaries for my niece. She really took the time to learn about her and tailor her care. One of my favorite memories of Melissa was her "spa time" with her where she created a spa-like ambiance during bath time which my niece absolutely loved. Melissa has treated my family as though we were a part of hers. During such a difficult period in our family's life, Melissa proved to be a ray of sunshine. There was always a sense of relief whenever we knew my niece was under Melissa's care. Melissa is truly a God-send. The NICU at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital will continue to be a top children's hospital with nurses like Melissa at the forefront.