My 3-year-old son was diagnosed with Epilepsy in March of this year, two days after my daughter was born. Despite medications, his seizures worsened, finally requiring us to come to the ER. We were admitted to BBCH for five days and Maddie was our nurse for four of the five days we were there. The day she wasn't there was when she was teaching nursing students, and she still checked in on us and came to see G.

Maddie was outstanding. I'm not sure how to put into words how scary it is to have your child be admitted to the hospital, but Maddie made that experience so much better for us. I recall it being scary and heartbreaking as his mom, but all G remembers is Maddie and meeting Slugger. Maddie made it a fun experience for him. She got right down on the ground and played Paw Patrol with him. She got us the continuous monitor, took him out for a ride in the hallway, and made sure to show us the fish tanks and the wall with the pet photos. 

G brought his favorite stuffed dog to the hospital. G and Maddie played toss with dog and made it a fun game. G wore his "super brother" cape and matching mask in the hall the first time Maddie got us out of our room. When we got back to our room, Maddie took his dog and made a miniature cape and mask so the dog and G were matching. To G, this was silly, but to us, it was a huge gesture that Maddie took to show she was invested in him and cared about him. I will never forget that for the rest of my life, her coming in and throwing the dog back to G with the matching costumes, it was completely heartwarming in such a scary situation. 

Maddie was so competent and reassuring. She helped to reiterate and translate information for us. She saw us from our worst through to our day of discharge, and reminded me how much progress we made. It’s hard as a parent to see the ten thousand-foot view, but Maddie reassured me how far we had come. 

Maddie not only cared for my son, but also went out of her way to care for my family. My husband dislocated his shoulder a few days before we got to the hospital. She kept an extra eye out for G and she got my husband ice packs. I was nursing my newborn daughter, and in all the chaos, I forgot my pumping stuff and Maddie got me pumping supplies. She always asked how my newborn daughter was, including remembering to ask how her first day of daycare went. I ran into Maddie on my first day back to work after maternity leave (about two weeks after we were discharged), she immediately remembered G and me and asked how he and my daughter were. She is so thoughtful and caring. She truly is a remarkable nurse. 

Maddie made a very scary experience a positive one for my son, and for that, I will be forever grateful. She deserves this award because people who make such an impact deserve to be recognized. BBCH is so lucky to have her, and so are the families that she will care for and the future nurses she is teaching. Maddie is now part of G's story, and we are so thankful for her positivity and presence during our stay.