April 2026 Honoree
NICU & Labor/Delivery Units
Jaelyn Hunt, RN – Labor & Delivery • Madison Leftridge, RN –– Labor & Delivery • Kim Clark, RN– Neonatal ICU • Mera Cunningham, RN – Neonatal ICU • Nicole Strimel, RN– Neonatal ICU • Mary Good, RN– Neonatal ICU
I am honored to nominate my labor and delivery nurse Jaelyn Hunt for a DAISY Award because she was truly the anchor I needed during one of the most intense and vulnerable experiences of my life.
What meant the most to me was her advocacy. She spoke up for me when I struggled to find the words myself. She made sure my concerns were heard and respected. In a situation where so much felt out of my control, she gave me back a sense of autonomy and dignity.
She went far beyond her clinical duties. She stayed by my side when she didn’t have to. She checked on me emotionally, not just physically. She celebrated small victories with me and reassured me during hard moments.
By the end of my labor, she was no longer “just my nurse,” she became a friend. Someone I will always remember as part of my birth story. She embodies everything the DAISY Award represents, and I am forever grateful for her.
I also want to nominate my nurse Madison Leftridge for the extraordinary care and compassion she showed me during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. I delivered my daughter unexpectedly and under frightening circumstances. I was overwhelmed, scared, and heartbroken knowing my baby would be going to the NICU.
From the moment we went back for my C-section, my nurse never left my side. She stayed with me the entire time when everything felt out of control. She held space for my fear without minimizing it.
What makes her truly extraordinary is that her care didn’t stop when her shift ended. She came to visit me and my daughter in the NICU on her own time. She brought the most thoughtful gift: a handmade leather journal and a handwritten card. In the middle of chaos and uncertainty, she gave me a place to hold my thoughts, my prayers, my baby’s story.
That gesture meant more than I can put into words. It made me feel seen, remembered, and loved. She was not just my nurse, she became my friend. Because of her, I look back on one of the hardest days of my life and remember warmth alongside the fear. That is the mark of an extraordinary nurse.
When our daughter was born unexpectedly tiny and admitted to the NICU, we were overwhelmed, scared, and completely unprepared. From the very beginning, our nurse Nicole Strimel didn’t just care for our baby; she cared for us.
She gently introduced us to the NICU environment, explained every monitor, every sound, every wire, and made something terrifying feel manageable. She gave us space to ask questions and never once made us feel small for not knowing what to expect.
But what truly sets her apart is the way she went beyond her role as a nurse. Because our daughter was born so tiny, none of the clothes we had fit her. She spent her own money on a sleeper small enough for our baby. That simple sleeper meant more than words can express. In a place filled with medical equipment and uncertainty, seeing our daughter dressed like a baby instead of just a patient restored a piece of normalcy and hope we didn’t know we needed.
She treated our daughter as if she were her own. Her kindness wasn’t performative; it was consistent and deeply genuine. She celebrated small victories with us, comforted us during setbacks, and reminded us that our baby was more than her patient. In the NICU, where days can feel long and heavy, she was light.
Because of her, our first memories as NICU parents are not only filled with fear — they are also filled with gratitude. She reminded us that even in the hardest moments, there are nurses who give not just their skill, but their hearts.
I am also honored to nominate our daughter’s NICU nurse Mary Good for the DAISY Award. She is our baby’s primary nurse on night shift, and the care she has shown our daughter and our family has meant more to us than words can fully capture.
Our daughter was born very early and began her life in the NICU. As parents, nothing prepares you for leaving the hospital room without your baby in your arms. The NICU can feel overwhelming, especially during the long nights when the world outside is quiet but your mind is full of worry.
From the very beginning, this nurse became a source of comfort and strength for our family. Knowing she is there through the night, caring for her, allows us to sleep and breathe a little easier. She watches over our daughter with incredible attentiveness, celebrating every small step forward and protecting her through the fragile early days of life.
What stands out most is the genuine love she shows for our daughter. She speaks to her gently, comforts her when she needs it, and cares for her with a tenderness that makes it clear she sees her not just as a patient, but as a tiny human who deserves compassion and dignity. As parents, there is nothing more meaningful than knowing someone cares for your child with that kind of heart.
She has also cared deeply for us as parents. She takes time to answer questions, explain what is happening, and reassure us when the NICU feels overwhelming. Her calm presence, kindness, and encouragement have brought us so much peace during one of the most vulnerable times in our lives.
Because of nurses like her, the NICU is not just a place of machines and uncertainty—it becomes a place of hope. Long after our NICU journey ends, we will always remember the nurse who watched over our daughter through the night and loved her when we couldn’t be there.
I nominate our daughter’s day shift primary NICU nurse, Kim Clark, for her incredible compassion, dedication, and care she has shown our family.
Our daughter was born very early and began her life in the NICU. As parents, entering the NICU world is overwhelming, emotional, and often frightening. From the moment this nurse began caring for our daughter during the day, she brought a sense of calm and reassurance into what felt like such an uncertain time.
She cares for our daughter with an incredible level of attentiveness and kindness. It is clear in the way she speaks to our daughter, the gentleness in her care, and the pride she takes in every small milestone that she truly loves what she does. She celebrates our daughter’s progress with us, encourages us during the difficult days, and always makes sure she is comfortable and cared for with such tenderness.
What makes her truly special is how she cares for us as parents too. She takes the time to explain things clearly, answer every question we have, and guide us through moments that can feel intimidating in the NICU. She never makes us feel rushed or like our concerns are small. Instead, she empowers us to feel confident as parents and reminds us that we are part of our daughter’s care team.
During the daytime hours when so much of Gwyneth’s care and progress happens, it has meant the world to have someone so compassionate and capable by her side. She has made the NICU feel less overwhelming and more like a place where our daughter is truly loved and protected.
Because of nurses like her, families like ours are able to find hope and strength during some of the most difficult moments of our lives.
Lastly, I would like to nominate NICU nurse Mera Cunningham, who has been caring for my baby and has shown extraordinary compassion, skill, and dedication to both my baby and our family.
From the moment she began caring for my daughter, she made a difficult situation feel a little less overwhelming. Her calm presence, gentle care, and genuine kindness have meant so much to us.
She treats my baby with such tenderness and respect, always speaking to her softly, comforting her, and making sure she is as comfortable as possible. It is clear that she sees each baby not just as a patient, but as a tiny person who deserves warmth, dignity, and love. Watching the way she cares for reassures me that my daughter is in the very best hands.
Just as importantly, she has cared for us as parents. She takes the time to explain things, answer our questions, and reassure us when the NICU feels overwhelming. She never makes us feel like our worries are too small or our questions are too many. Instead, she makes us feel included, supported, and understood during a time when we need it most.
The impact she has had on our NICU journey is something we will never forget. Nurses like her are the reason families are able to find comfort and hope in such a difficult place.
We are endlessly grateful for the love and care that has been given to our daughter by the Team of Nurses at CAMC Women & Children’s Hospital. They will forever be a meaningful part of our daughter’s story, and our family is so thankful for the compassion they showed every single day.
Our family will always be grateful for the extraordinary care these nurses gave to our little girl.
What meant the most to me was her advocacy. She spoke up for me when I struggled to find the words myself. She made sure my concerns were heard and respected. In a situation where so much felt out of my control, she gave me back a sense of autonomy and dignity.
She went far beyond her clinical duties. She stayed by my side when she didn’t have to. She checked on me emotionally, not just physically. She celebrated small victories with me and reassured me during hard moments.
By the end of my labor, she was no longer “just my nurse,” she became a friend. Someone I will always remember as part of my birth story. She embodies everything the DAISY Award represents, and I am forever grateful for her.
I also want to nominate my nurse Madison Leftridge for the extraordinary care and compassion she showed me during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life. I delivered my daughter unexpectedly and under frightening circumstances. I was overwhelmed, scared, and heartbroken knowing my baby would be going to the NICU.
From the moment we went back for my C-section, my nurse never left my side. She stayed with me the entire time when everything felt out of control. She held space for my fear without minimizing it.
What makes her truly extraordinary is that her care didn’t stop when her shift ended. She came to visit me and my daughter in the NICU on her own time. She brought the most thoughtful gift: a handmade leather journal and a handwritten card. In the middle of chaos and uncertainty, she gave me a place to hold my thoughts, my prayers, my baby’s story.
That gesture meant more than I can put into words. It made me feel seen, remembered, and loved. She was not just my nurse, she became my friend. Because of her, I look back on one of the hardest days of my life and remember warmth alongside the fear. That is the mark of an extraordinary nurse.
When our daughter was born unexpectedly tiny and admitted to the NICU, we were overwhelmed, scared, and completely unprepared. From the very beginning, our nurse Nicole Strimel didn’t just care for our baby; she cared for us.
She gently introduced us to the NICU environment, explained every monitor, every sound, every wire, and made something terrifying feel manageable. She gave us space to ask questions and never once made us feel small for not knowing what to expect.
But what truly sets her apart is the way she went beyond her role as a nurse. Because our daughter was born so tiny, none of the clothes we had fit her. She spent her own money on a sleeper small enough for our baby. That simple sleeper meant more than words can express. In a place filled with medical equipment and uncertainty, seeing our daughter dressed like a baby instead of just a patient restored a piece of normalcy and hope we didn’t know we needed.
She treated our daughter as if she were her own. Her kindness wasn’t performative; it was consistent and deeply genuine. She celebrated small victories with us, comforted us during setbacks, and reminded us that our baby was more than her patient. In the NICU, where days can feel long and heavy, she was light.
Because of her, our first memories as NICU parents are not only filled with fear — they are also filled with gratitude. She reminded us that even in the hardest moments, there are nurses who give not just their skill, but their hearts.
I am also honored to nominate our daughter’s NICU nurse Mary Good for the DAISY Award. She is our baby’s primary nurse on night shift, and the care she has shown our daughter and our family has meant more to us than words can fully capture.
Our daughter was born very early and began her life in the NICU. As parents, nothing prepares you for leaving the hospital room without your baby in your arms. The NICU can feel overwhelming, especially during the long nights when the world outside is quiet but your mind is full of worry.
From the very beginning, this nurse became a source of comfort and strength for our family. Knowing she is there through the night, caring for her, allows us to sleep and breathe a little easier. She watches over our daughter with incredible attentiveness, celebrating every small step forward and protecting her through the fragile early days of life.
What stands out most is the genuine love she shows for our daughter. She speaks to her gently, comforts her when she needs it, and cares for her with a tenderness that makes it clear she sees her not just as a patient, but as a tiny human who deserves compassion and dignity. As parents, there is nothing more meaningful than knowing someone cares for your child with that kind of heart.
She has also cared deeply for us as parents. She takes time to answer questions, explain what is happening, and reassure us when the NICU feels overwhelming. Her calm presence, kindness, and encouragement have brought us so much peace during one of the most vulnerable times in our lives.
Because of nurses like her, the NICU is not just a place of machines and uncertainty—it becomes a place of hope. Long after our NICU journey ends, we will always remember the nurse who watched over our daughter through the night and loved her when we couldn’t be there.
I nominate our daughter’s day shift primary NICU nurse, Kim Clark, for her incredible compassion, dedication, and care she has shown our family.
Our daughter was born very early and began her life in the NICU. As parents, entering the NICU world is overwhelming, emotional, and often frightening. From the moment this nurse began caring for our daughter during the day, she brought a sense of calm and reassurance into what felt like such an uncertain time.
She cares for our daughter with an incredible level of attentiveness and kindness. It is clear in the way she speaks to our daughter, the gentleness in her care, and the pride she takes in every small milestone that she truly loves what she does. She celebrates our daughter’s progress with us, encourages us during the difficult days, and always makes sure she is comfortable and cared for with such tenderness.
What makes her truly special is how she cares for us as parents too. She takes the time to explain things clearly, answer every question we have, and guide us through moments that can feel intimidating in the NICU. She never makes us feel rushed or like our concerns are small. Instead, she empowers us to feel confident as parents and reminds us that we are part of our daughter’s care team.
During the daytime hours when so much of Gwyneth’s care and progress happens, it has meant the world to have someone so compassionate and capable by her side. She has made the NICU feel less overwhelming and more like a place where our daughter is truly loved and protected.
Because of nurses like her, families like ours are able to find hope and strength during some of the most difficult moments of our lives.
Lastly, I would like to nominate NICU nurse Mera Cunningham, who has been caring for my baby and has shown extraordinary compassion, skill, and dedication to both my baby and our family.
From the moment she began caring for my daughter, she made a difficult situation feel a little less overwhelming. Her calm presence, gentle care, and genuine kindness have meant so much to us.
She treats my baby with such tenderness and respect, always speaking to her softly, comforting her, and making sure she is as comfortable as possible. It is clear that she sees each baby not just as a patient, but as a tiny person who deserves warmth, dignity, and love. Watching the way she cares for reassures me that my daughter is in the very best hands.
Just as importantly, she has cared for us as parents. She takes the time to explain things, answer our questions, and reassure us when the NICU feels overwhelming. She never makes us feel like our worries are too small or our questions are too many. Instead, she makes us feel included, supported, and understood during a time when we need it most.
The impact she has had on our NICU journey is something we will never forget. Nurses like her are the reason families are able to find comfort and hope in such a difficult place.
We are endlessly grateful for the love and care that has been given to our daughter by the Team of Nurses at CAMC Women & Children’s Hospital. They will forever be a meaningful part of our daughter’s story, and our family is so thankful for the compassion they showed every single day.
Our family will always be grateful for the extraordinary care these nurses gave to our little girl.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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