I am honored to nominate Zack, RN, for the DAISY Award due to his extraordinary care during a time of immense vulnerability and uncertainty. I came into the hospital with chest pain on June 4th and went into ventricular fibrillation arrest in the Emergency Department on the morning of June 5th. Zack was present during my code blue and was the first person I saw when I regained consciousness. That moment could have been overwhelming, but instead, I felt calm.

After a trip to the catheterization lab, I was transferred to the ICU under Zack's care. His presence was reassuring; he monitored me closely and provided the expert care my condition required without instilling fear. He offered guidance without being overbearing, always striking the right balance between attentiveness and allowing me space.

In those first two days after my cardiac arrest, Zack assisted me with basic tasks—things like toileting and personal care—that can feel especially humbling for an independent adult. He approached each moment with professionalism and compassion, always preserving my dignity. At no point did I feel like “just another patient.” Instead, Zack treated me like a person, and that made all the difference. Zack was a steady and calm presence during one of the most physically and emotionally difficult times in my life. His quiet competence and respectful approach helped me begin to recover not just physically, but emotionally as well. Zack exemplifies what it means to be a DAISY nurse. I am deeply grateful for the care he provided and believe he is richly deserving of this recognition.