When our son was admitted to the hospital, and we first learned he had a brain tumor that would require surgery, Nicholas was our nurse. From the moment we met him, his kind, caring, and compassionate nature brought us so much comfort during one of the hardest times of our lives. Our son immediately connected with him, and so did my husband and I.
   
A few days later, the day before our son was scheduled for surgery, he was suddenly moved to the Neuro ICU as his condition changed. To our surprise and relief, Nurse Nick was once again our nurse. His calm, reassuring presence helped us get through those tense hours as plans for surgery changed quickly.
   

During that time, Nicholas shared something deeply personal — when he was just 15 years old, he too was diagnosed with a brain tumor. To our amazement, we discovered that he and my son shared the same oncologist. Our son, now 40, had been diagnosed with leukemia at age 7 and relapsed at age 10. Hearing Nicholas’s story and seeing how he turned his own experience into a calling to care for others was truly inspiring. It gave us hope and strength at a time when we needed it most.
   
 Nicholas’s compassion, professionalism, and empathy left a lasting impression on our family. Though we haven’t seen him since the night of my son's surgery, we will never forget his kindness and the special bond he shared with our son. He exemplifies the very spirit of nursing that the DAISY Award celebrates.