July 2026 Honoree
Nellie Tait, BSN, RN
Our family would like to commend Nellie Tait for the care she gave our daughter and our entire family during one of the most difficult times of our lives; it was truly extraordinary. During our daughter’s 30-day stay in the NICU, Nellie made a lasting impact on our experience. The first day we had her was the day our daughter began some of the most critical parts of her diagnosis. It was a long and overwhelming day filled with major procedures, including intubation, MRIs, and a double exchange blood transfer.
Nellie came to work that day not knowing how big or intense that shift would become, yet she handled it like an absolute rockstar. She remained calm, organized, and incredibly attentive while constantly multitasking to make sure everything our daughter needed was done quickly and safely. Even in the middle of such intense medical moments, Nellie never lost sight of the fact that we were scared parents trying to process everything happening to our newborn. She kept us informed, reassured us, and brought a sense of steadiness to a day that could have easily felt chaotic and terrifying.
From that first day on, Nellie continued to care for our daughter and got to see her improve little by little. She celebrated those small victories with us and genuinely shared in our hope as our daughter grew stronger. One of the things that meant the most to us was how she helped us still feel like parents in a NICU environment. She always made space for us to participate in diaper changes and bath time so we could care for our baby in whatever ways we could.
Nellie also added such a warm, personal touch to our daughter's care. She often gave her the special sunshine blankets, and sometimes we walked in to find her playing lullabies for our daughter on her phone. Those small acts of love made a huge difference during such a stressful and uncertain time. She also took the time to truly get to know us. She asked about our life back home and about our older daughter, reminding us that we were more than just another patient room. That kind of compassion cannot be taught.
We genuinely looked forward to the days Nellie was our nurse. Walking into the room and seeing her face immediately put us at ease because we knew our daughter was in such caring and capable hands. Because of Nellie, one of the scariest experiences of our lives felt more manageable. Instead of feeling powerless while our newborn underwent such serious medical care, we felt supported, included, and hopeful. Nellie played an important role in our daughter's journey, and we will never forget the care, compassion, and strength she showed our family. We truly believe she represents everything the DAISY Award stands for, and we are incredibly grateful for the impact she had on our daughter’s story.
Nellie came to work that day not knowing how big or intense that shift would become, yet she handled it like an absolute rockstar. She remained calm, organized, and incredibly attentive while constantly multitasking to make sure everything our daughter needed was done quickly and safely. Even in the middle of such intense medical moments, Nellie never lost sight of the fact that we were scared parents trying to process everything happening to our newborn. She kept us informed, reassured us, and brought a sense of steadiness to a day that could have easily felt chaotic and terrifying.
From that first day on, Nellie continued to care for our daughter and got to see her improve little by little. She celebrated those small victories with us and genuinely shared in our hope as our daughter grew stronger. One of the things that meant the most to us was how she helped us still feel like parents in a NICU environment. She always made space for us to participate in diaper changes and bath time so we could care for our baby in whatever ways we could.
Nellie also added such a warm, personal touch to our daughter's care. She often gave her the special sunshine blankets, and sometimes we walked in to find her playing lullabies for our daughter on her phone. Those small acts of love made a huge difference during such a stressful and uncertain time. She also took the time to truly get to know us. She asked about our life back home and about our older daughter, reminding us that we were more than just another patient room. That kind of compassion cannot be taught.
We genuinely looked forward to the days Nellie was our nurse. Walking into the room and seeing her face immediately put us at ease because we knew our daughter was in such caring and capable hands. Because of Nellie, one of the scariest experiences of our lives felt more manageable. Instead of feeling powerless while our newborn underwent such serious medical care, we felt supported, included, and hopeful. Nellie played an important role in our daughter's journey, and we will never forget the care, compassion, and strength she showed our family. We truly believe she represents everything the DAISY Award stands for, and we are incredibly grateful for the impact she had on our daughter’s story.
Thank you, Nellie, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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