Our family spent a combined 40 days in the NICU, PCICU, and PCARD during the first months of our daughter's life. At just three days old, she underwent open-heart surgery to repair her TGA. Throughout that time, we encountered the most extraordinary doctors, nurses, and providers. These incredible people who cared for our daughter we will never forget.

During our daughter's first week after her nine-hour surgery, she experienced serious complications due to previously unknown collateral arteries. Those days became some of the most frightening and desperate moments of our lives.

And yet, it was in the middle of that storm that we were given Michelle.

Though early in her nursing career, Michelle carried herself with the confidence, wisdom, and steady presence of a seasoned veteran. We kept joking that even though she was younger than us, she had the sweet presence and benevolent nature of our favorite grandmother.

She possesses the qualities that cannot be taught. She was so calm under pressure, attentive, positive, and gentle. She was professional yet lighthearted at just the right moments. She communicated with clarity and grace, even when delivering difficult information.

Michelle kept our daughter stable during moments when her tiny body seemed to be working against her. She gave us strength through her knowledge and steadiness, even when the news was not what we hoped to hear.

Trusting someone with your life is one thing, but trusting someone with your newborn child is entirely different. But we never once doubted that she was in the best possible hands. Michelle's attentiveness and communication with the team without a doubt helped her get the life-saving care she needed.

We were exhausted, postpartum, overwhelmed, and honestly not our best selves. Our child was intubated, and we didn't know what we could do, all while missing our other two children at home. Fear had scrambled our thoughts, words, and emotions.

Yet never once did Michelle make us feel judged. She met us with patience, kindness, and understanding every single day. She answered repeated questions without hesitation or annoyance, validated our fears, and treated us with the same dignity and compassion she gave our daughter.

Caring for critically ill infants day after day cannot be easy, but Michelle never appeared detached or distant. Instead, it felt as though she truly loved our daughter and valued her life as deeply as we did.

We were fortunate enough to have Michelle as her nurse for three consecutive and critical days, which felt like a lifetime. When shift change approached, we felt anxious because we trusted her so completely. She eased our fears every time, reassuring us and communicating seamlessly and thoughtfully to the next nurse, ensuring the continuity of care with detail and compassion.

Today we are so overjoyed to say that our daughter is thriving and getting stronger with each passing moment. Watching her grow and flourish is a gift we never take for granted. She has even ended up with red hair like her favorite nurse!

It is remarkable to us that some of the darkest days of our lives are also intertwined with such gratitude because of Michelle and her care and spirit. Her calling to this profession is undeniable. We thank God for giving us Michelle when He did and that she was by our daughter's side during those critical days.

She is truly born to be a nurse, and she is so deserving of this award.