Roxanne is a nurse who leads with both skill and heart; however, her ability to do so during one of the most sacred times in patients' lives is deserving of particular praise. Recently, in the final days and hours of a beloved resident's life at Helen Porter Nursing Facility, Roxanne went far beyond her professional duties, staying well past the end of her shift to ensure that the resident and her family had the equipment, medications, and reassurance she needed to be comfortable.

Roxanne embodied a calm and loving presence, gently soothing the resident with her comforting words and gentle touch as she worked through challenging symptoms. She cared not only for the resident's body, but also for her spirit, modeling to her colleagues the preservation of dignity and ease of suffering at the end of life. Roxanne also extended that same thoughtful care to the resident's devoted brother, who kept constant vigil at the bedside for days. Roxanne made sure he was routinely informed, fed, hydrated, and as comfortable as possible. She made space for his grief and honored his love for his sister, laughing and crying together as he shared cherished memories from their childhood.

At one point, Roxanne and several other staff members at Helen Porter fabricated a scheme to recreate an annual trip that the resident usually took with her family, a gesture unfortunately robbed by the patient's devastating disease. Roxanne's dedication, empathy, and relentless advocacy for this patient made a profound difference, not just in one life but in the hearts of everyone who witnessed her care. I am a better doctor because of Roxanne; I feel that she is everything the DAISY Award represents and more.