This nomination is 2 years in the making. Our son has been a frequent resident of the PICU over the last 2 years - with almost six months of admissions under his belt already. He had three open heart surgeries, five cath procedures and a few scary moments. While every nurse in the PICU strives to help parents through their stay in the unit, one has stood out for us. He has taken care of our child countless times, including the day he came back from his first open heart surgery and the morning he was called in when our son went into cardiac arrest in the emergency room. He has made an enormous impact in our lives. Our nurse is Kevin Rice.

He consistently takes the time to educate us about our son's condition. We decided very early on that we wanted to learn as much as we could so that we could help him be as healthy as he could be. Kevin began teaching the moment we walked in the room after the first surgery. No matter how many times we asked a question or re-asked for clarification, he answered it and explained everything in terms that we understood and that we could communicate to our families. He patiently explained things to our family members who had questions and was always quick to calm a fear if he needed to.

Kevin has a special connection with our son, and in turn, our family. He genuinely cares about our son and we have come in from a quick walk or lunch to find him sitting in a chair with our son because he simply needed someone to comfort him. That is invaluable to a parent - to know that someone will treat your child as their own if you need to step away from the bedside to eat or simply get a breath of fresh air.

Kevin is also aware and sensitive to our son's needs. For instance, during his last stay, he was very apprehensive of anyone who came into his room. So, when the time came to put in a new IV, we were a little nervous. Kevin had the IV inserted before our son even made a whimper. He knows how to use humor to lighten a mood. This is so important in the PICU. It is such a high-stress environment that can quickly take its toll on you, but he has found a balance of using humor when he can and offering the highest quality of care and professionalism. We trust him completely with the care of our son and we never worry when he is in his care.

You can also tell during rounds and in his interactions with the rest of the staff of the PICU that he is a collaborative partner in our child's care. During our last visit, our son's fluids were being carefully watched and the comment that we heard was "We trust [Kevin]." It is obvious that he is respected in the unit.

We are very lucky that we chose Rush for our son's care. The team that has taken care of him is the reason that he is with us now and doing well. While we appreciate every nurse, doctor and staff member who has come into our lives in this journey, it is our pleasure to nominate Kevin Rice for the DAISY Award. He is extraordinary to us and our family.