August 2026 Honoree
Rhonda Joyce, RN, BSN
The most prestigious recognition feels too small to capture the depth of Rhonda's compassion, sacrifice, and unwavering love for our family.
We met Rhonda in the NICU during the most terrifying days of our lives. Our newborn son had just been admitted with unexplained liver failure, and we were drowning in fear, confusion, and exhaustion. Days passed without sleep, a shower, or a moment of peace. Rhonda came on shift, and everything changed.
She didn't just care for our son; she cared for us as people. She found an empty room so we could shower, a bed where my husband could rest his aching body, and a more comfortable chair so I could stay close by my son's bedside. She held our baby with such tenderness during his scans, whispering to him, comforting him, loving him. In every moment, she was warm, thoughtful, calm, and deeply present.
Rhonda didn't stop at providing excellent care during her shifts; she became part of our lives. Two months later, after our son's first surgery failed and he was officially listed for a liver transplant, Rhonda reached out without hesitation and signed up to be his living donor. She was the very first to undergo evaluation, subjecting herself to a battery of labs, imaging, and invasive tests, all while still working long, demanding NICU shifts.
When the transplant team discovered one of her veins was too short to safely proceed, she asked if a vein graft could be used instead, knowing full well the additional risk that would place on her body. Her only concern was giving our son a chance at life.
The fact that she wasn't selected didn’t deter her commitment. Rhonda continues to support us in ways that go far beyond the call of duty. She interprets medical results when I'm overwhelmed, reassures me through my worst fears, and constantly lifts us up with tangible reminders of love care packages, a personalized Easter basket for our son, a Mother's Day basket for me. Each one made with thought, prayer, and heart.
Rhonda is no longer just a nurse to us; she is family. Her love has carried us through moments we didn't think we would survive. She offered her life to save our son's. I don't know of many people, let alone nurses, who would go to such lengths not just once, but over and over again.
Rhonda embodies the very heart of nursing: compassion, sacrifice, fierce advocacy, and the kind of love that doesn't end when the shift does. She is a light in the darkest places, and our son's journey is forever marked by the grace and courage she has poured into it.
Rhonda is, without question, a DAISY Nurse.
We met Rhonda in the NICU during the most terrifying days of our lives. Our newborn son had just been admitted with unexplained liver failure, and we were drowning in fear, confusion, and exhaustion. Days passed without sleep, a shower, or a moment of peace. Rhonda came on shift, and everything changed.
She didn't just care for our son; she cared for us as people. She found an empty room so we could shower, a bed where my husband could rest his aching body, and a more comfortable chair so I could stay close by my son's bedside. She held our baby with such tenderness during his scans, whispering to him, comforting him, loving him. In every moment, she was warm, thoughtful, calm, and deeply present.
Rhonda didn't stop at providing excellent care during her shifts; she became part of our lives. Two months later, after our son's first surgery failed and he was officially listed for a liver transplant, Rhonda reached out without hesitation and signed up to be his living donor. She was the very first to undergo evaluation, subjecting herself to a battery of labs, imaging, and invasive tests, all while still working long, demanding NICU shifts.
When the transplant team discovered one of her veins was too short to safely proceed, she asked if a vein graft could be used instead, knowing full well the additional risk that would place on her body. Her only concern was giving our son a chance at life.
The fact that she wasn't selected didn’t deter her commitment. Rhonda continues to support us in ways that go far beyond the call of duty. She interprets medical results when I'm overwhelmed, reassures me through my worst fears, and constantly lifts us up with tangible reminders of love care packages, a personalized Easter basket for our son, a Mother's Day basket for me. Each one made with thought, prayer, and heart.
Rhonda is no longer just a nurse to us; she is family. Her love has carried us through moments we didn't think we would survive. She offered her life to save our son's. I don't know of many people, let alone nurses, who would go to such lengths not just once, but over and over again.
Rhonda embodies the very heart of nursing: compassion, sacrifice, fierce advocacy, and the kind of love that doesn't end when the shift does. She is a light in the darkest places, and our son's journey is forever marked by the grace and courage she has poured into it.
Rhonda is, without question, a DAISY Nurse.
Thank you, Rhonda, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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