I don’t know if I’ll ever find the right words to truly express our gratitude, but I have to try. I am writing to nominate our nurse, Natasha, for the DAISY Award. She cared for my wife and our brand new baby girl, and in doing so, she forever shaped our first precious moments of becoming a family. The moment Natasha walked into our room, it felt like a wave of calm washed over the chaos and anxiety we were feeling as new parents. The way she first spoke to and held our daughter wasn't just professional; it was with a tenderness and reverence that told us everything. We knew our tiny, fragile baby was in the most compassionate hands.

We felt her constant, protective presence throughout her shifts, a quiet guardian watching over our new family. Natasha was also my wife’s fierce advocate, always one step ahead of her pain and ensuring she could rest and recover in comfort. What I will personally never forget is how Natasha cared for me, the new and nervous dad. I remember feeling a bit like a bystander, unsure of how to best help. Natasha must have noticed. She gently came over and, with a warm smile, showed me a few different ways to burp our daughter until we found one that worked. It might seem like a small thing, but in that moment, she wasn’t just teaching me a skill; she was giving me confidence and inviting me to be a hands-on father from the very beginning. It was a gift.

But the moment that truly defines Natasha's heart is something our family will treasure forever. She went far above and beyond what we could ever expect from a nurse to help us create a priceless memento. She took it upon herself to help us get our daughter’s tiny footprints on a keepsake card. We know this wasn't in her job description; this was an act of pure kindness that came straight from her heart. Watching her carefully and patiently press our daughter’s tiny foot onto the paper—helping us capture that fleeting moment in time—brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Natasha has more than a skilled mind and expert hands; she has a beautiful heart. She didn’t just see a patient in a bed or a baby in a bassinet; she saw a new family who needed guidance, reassurance, and a little extra love. She made a profound and meaningful difference in our lives, and we will talk about our wonderful nurse, Natasha, for years to come. She is so deserving of this honor.