Your 7-month-old son has stage 4 metastatic neuroblastoma ... queue stomach drop and world caving in. How on earth will I cope? How will I stay informed and be sure my questions will be asked and answered? Will the staff choose the best plan of care and guide me in the right direction? Fears and questions all cancer baby parents experience. 
As we began our journey to fight this cancerous beast, I quickly noticed how amazing our team was. From doctors, surgeons, anesthesia, medical assistants/care partners to the glue that keeps it all together ... the nurses! 

All nursing staff from the oncology unit, nuclear med, pacu, preop, and oncology clinic have been amazing, but there is one nurse that stands above them all: Amanda Kautz. 

The definition of a great nurse (to me, a fellow nurse) is someone who will sternly advocate for their patient and patient's family and care for the patient and family with the utmost respect, making them feel like a priority and feel heard. 

Now an Extraordinary Nurse like Amanda Kautz has all these characteristics with one special addition ... Love, for her patient and their family. Love that makes you feel like this fight is not just ours to fight! Love that is unexpected from a nurse and usually given only by family. 

These days are busy! Call lights going off nonstop, medications to be given to many, consultations and procedures to be completed. Great care can easily fall through the cracks. However, Amanda NEVER lets the hustle of a busy clinic day keep her from making you feel like her only patient. Her day with a full assignment in the clinic is no different from her slower days. 
Amanda is always finding ways to make our son happy. Those amazing badge reels that hold several pop-its and sparkly pins with glitter name badges have always been a main attraction for him. During blood pressure checks, port accessing, or even just a simple assessment, he is sure to be holding your badge. Knowing his comfort in holding her badge, Amanda went beyond expectations and bought all the parts to make him his very own badge reel. Something so little made our son’s face light up with joy. Amanda went above and beyond to simply make him smile. 

Amanda is there for me as well. Being a mom of a baby with cancer is a hard fight full of self-doubt. It's the simplest gestures, like rubbing his fine hair and telling me how amazing he looks that automatically take away my doubt and make me feel proud like I am doing good at being his mama and helping him fight. Or the moments of sitting in our room with compassion in her silence, while I received news of his care journey that wasn't what we wanted to hear. Finally, never allowing me to feel confused, uneducated, or left to figure things out through Google. 

Amanda is the epitome of a DAISY Nurse. She goes beyond expectations and is extraordinary. Amanda is the reason I can breathe with ease while I help make plans for my son. Amanda cares for us as she would her family. She goes the extra mile. I know she has our back. Amanda is our God-given angel and I am forever grateful. 

In closing, I ask (or beg) that you pick my girl. Choose her to represent your amazing staff at CHKD. Help me make her feel loved, just as she loves us. Trust me you won't be disappointed with your choice!