My mother had several nurses during her hospitalizations to HMC. On her last stay, she was very uncomfortable and we received the news that her body was shutting down and there was nothing more that could be done but to keep her comfortable. Our family was not well prepared and we were all in different stages of grieving. As my mother's power of attorney, it was left up to me to decide on the next steps. I remember the moment I realized that her time line was coming to an end; Nicole sat with me while I broke down. She provided comfort with her unrushed presence and a hug at a time when I was alone and needed it most. Her compassion helped to keep me strong enough to face my family when I needed to. As a nurse myself, I knew she had a ton of work to do but she treated our situation as if we were the only ones that mattered. It's still very difficult to talk about the experience and writing it out is no easier, but I am so fortunate to have had Nicole enter my life when she did. She helped me to remember why I became a nurse, that what happens every day in our careers can be a once in a lifetime experience for those we are caring for. I am honored to nominate Nicole for the DAISY Award as she embodies all that it stands for and more.
Thank you does little to express my gratitude for her kindness and I hope the award will help her remember she was my light during a very dark time.